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Single Idea 1539

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / c. Wealth ]

Full Idea

Unless a point of satiety is reached, the desire for money is far more cruel than the utmost poverty, because the greater the desire, the greater the need

Clarification

'satiety' is complete satisfaction

Gist of Idea

The endless desire for money is a crueller slavery than poverty

Source

Democritus (attrib) (reports [c.250 BCE], B219), quoted by John Stobaeus - Anthology 3.10.43

Book Ref

'The First Philosophers', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 2000], p.191


The 24 ideas from Democritus (attrib)

Be virtuous from duty, not from fear [Democritus (attr)]
It is a great thing, when one is in adversity, to think of duty [Democritus (attr)]
Repentance of shameful deeds is salvation [Democritus (attr)]
The wrongdoer is more unfortunate than the person wronged [Democritus (attr)]
Reason is a more powerful persuader than gold [Democritus (attr)]
Good breeding in men means having a good character [Democritus (attr)]
Virtue doesn't just avoid evil, but also doesn't desire it [Democritus (attr)]
Good and true are the same for everyone, but pleasures differ [Democritus (attr)]
Immoderate desire is the mark of a child, not an adult [Democritus (attr)]
Virtuous love consists of decorous desire for the beautiful [Democritus (attr)]
Only accept beneficial pleasures [Democritus (attr)]
It is better to have one intelligent friend than many unintelligent [Democritus (attr)]
Beauty is merely animal without intelligence [Democritus (attr)]
A bad life is just a drawn-out death [Democritus (attr)]
One must avoid even speaking of evil deeds [Democritus (attr)]
The great pleasures come from the contemplation of noble works [Democritus (attr)]
We should only choose pleasures which are concerned with the beautiful [Democritus (attr)]
Moderation brings more pleasures, and so increases pleasure [Democritus (attr)]
It is as brave to master pleasure as to overcome the enemy [Democritus (attr)]
The endless desire for money is a crueller slavery than poverty [Democritus (attr)]
Virtue comes more from practice than from nature [Democritus (attr)]
Behave well when alone, and feel shame in you own eyes [Democritus (attr)]
It is better to be poor in a democracy than be rich without freedom [Democritus (attr)]
Small appetite makes poverty equal to wealth [Democritus (attr)]