Wealth

We take care of our possessions for our children, but of the children themselves we take no care at all. What an absurdity this is! Form the soul of your son aright, and all the rest will be added afterward. If that is not good, he will derive no advantage from his wealth, and if it is formed to goodness he will suffer no harm from poverty. Do you want to leave him rich? Teach him to be good; for so he will be able to acquire wealth, or if not, he will not fare worse than those who possess it. But if he is wicked, though you leave him boundless wealth, you leave him no one to take care of it, and you render him worse than those who are reduced to extreme poverty.

With us there is no desire of self-importance, nor do we indulge in a variety of opinions. For having renounced the popular and earthly, and obeying the commands of God, and following the law of the Father of immortality, we reject everything which rests upon human opinion. Not only do the rich among us pursue our philosophy, but the poor enjoy instruction gratuitously; for the things which come from God surpass the reward of worldly gifts. Thus we admit all who desire to hear, even old women and youths; and, in short, persons of every age are treated by us with respect, but every kind of licentiousness is kept at a distance.

Ivory and gold and riches of all kinds are certainly blessings of divine providence, not only permitted, but expressly designed for the use of men; nor are we anywhere prohibited to laugh, or to be satiated with food, or to annex new possessions to those already enjoyed by ourselves or by our ancestors, or to be delighted with musical harmony, or to drink wine. This indeed is true; but amidst an abundance of all things, to be immersed in sensual delights, to inebriate the heart and mind with present pleasures, and perpetually to grasp at new ones, these things are very remote from a legitimate use of the divine blessings.