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Full Idea
Wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence makes wealth and everything else good for men.
Clarification
'Excellence' here is the Greek word 'areté', which also translates as 'virtue'
Gist of Idea
Wealth is good if it is accompanied by virtue
Source
Socrates (reports of last days [c.399 BCE]), quoted by Plato - The Apology 30b
Book Ref
Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.28
343 | The unexamined life is not worth living for men [Socrates] |
344 | If death is like a night of dreamless sleep, such nights are very pleasant [Socrates] |
339 | Men fear death as a great evil when it may be a great blessing [Socrates] |
2 | We should not even harm someone who harms us [Socrates] |
345 | A good man cannot be harmed, either in life or in death [Socrates] |
346 | One ought not to return a wrong or injury to any person, whatever the provocation [Socrates] |
341 | Wealth is good if it is accompanied by virtue [Socrates] |
347 | Will I stand up against the law, simply because I have been unjustly judged? [Socrates] |
338 | Socrates is accused of denying the gods, saying sun is stone and moon is earth [Socrates, by Plato] |