For they derive not their preciousness from being counted in thy riches, but rather thou hast chosen to count them in thy riches because they seemed to thee precious.
'Then, what seek ye by all this noisy outcry about fortune?
To chase away poverty, I ween, by means of abundance.

And yet ye find the result just contrary.

Why, this varied array of precious furniture needs more accessories for its protection; it is a true saying that they want most who possess most, and, conversely, they want very little who measure their abundance by nature's requirements, not by the superfluity of vain display.

Have ye no good of your own implanted within you, that ye seek your good in things external and separate?
Is the nature of things so reversed that a creature divine by right of reason can in no other way be splendid in his own eyes save by the possession of lifeless chattels?
Yet, while other things are content with their own, ye who in your intellect are God-like seek from the lowest of things adornment for a nature of supreme excellence, and perceive not how great a wrong ye do your Maker.

His will was that mankind should excel all things on earth.
Ye thrust down your worth beneath the lowest of things.