I should have liked to gain a second gold piece, but I might have lost the first.

So I did not use it for the housekeeping, but buried it in a safe place, so that I could faithfully return it to you.' Then the master snatched the gold piece from him and gave it to the fellow who had increased his money tenfold.
'The little that he has shall be taken away from the lazy and unprofitable servant and given to him who knows how to value what he has.'" "Do you understand ?" Matthew asked the smith.

"The gold pieces are the talents which God gives men--to some more, to others less.

Whoso lets his talents lie fallow, and does not use them, is like the man who has strength and skill to work the iron, but who lays the hammer aside to brood idly over writings he cannot understand." "How is it then," said someone, "fault is found with him who works, and likewise with him who doesn't work ?" Matthew tapped the speaker on the shoulder.

"My friend! Everything at the right time! the point is to do that for which you have a talent, not to yearn after things for which you have no talent whatsoever." The smith laid aside his book and his phylacteries and grasped his hammer.
Then a man came by who complained that the new teaching was worthless.
He had followed it, had given away all his possessions because they brought him care.