The Republic

by G.M.A. Grube

The treasure house filled with gold, which each possesses, destroys the constitution. First, they find ways of spending money for themselves, then they stretch the laws relating to this, then they and their wives disobey the laws altogether. {221} They would do that. And as one person sees another doing this and emulates him, they make the majority of the others like themselves. [e] They do. From there they proceed further into money-making, and the more they value it, the less they value virtue. Or aren't virtue and wealth so opposed that if they were set on a scales, they'd always incline in opposite directions? That's right. So, when wealth and the wealthy are valued or honored in a city, virtue and good people are valued less. [551] Clearly. And what is valued is always practiced, and what isn't valued is neglected. That's right. Then, in the end, victory-loving and honor-loving men become lovers of making money, or money-lovers. And they praise and admire wealthy people and appoint them as rulers, while they dishonor poor ones.