Do you take notice of my example, and learn the danger of delay. Sir, all the arguments which are brought to represent poverty as no evil, shew it to be a great evil. You never find people labouring to convince you that you may live very happily upon a plentiful fortune. No, Sir, you will have much more influence by giving or lending money where it is wanted, than by hospitality. Power and wealth supply the place of each other.
Power confers the ability of gratifying our desire without the consent of others.
Wealth enables us to obtain the consent of others to our gratification. Power, simply considered, whatever it confers on one, must take from another. Wealth enables its owner to give to others, by taking only from himself. Youth therefore flies at power, and age grovels after riches. The feudal system is formed for a nation employed in agriculture, and has never long kept its hold where gold and silver have become common.