Though we take from a covetous man all his treasure, he has yet one jewel left; you cannot bereave him of his covetousness.
Interpretation
A person's greed remains even if their possessions are taken away.
This quote by John Milton suggests that material wealth can be taken from a greedy person, but their insatiable desire for more will always remain. It implies that covetousness is a deep-rooted trait that cannot be stripped away, highlighting the idea that true value lies not only in possessions but also in one's mindset and spirit.
In practice
During a seminar about personal values, this quote can illustrate the dangers of greed.
They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand, the gate With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms: Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide; They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.
The stars, that nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps with everlasting oil, give due light to the misled and lonely traveller.
Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipp'd stocks and stones.
Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss
The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him.
Apt words have power to suage the tumors of a troubled mind.
My language and my sensibility are yearning to admit a kind of religious or transcendent dimension. But then there's the reality: there's no Heaven, no afterlife of the sort we were promised, and no personal God.
Life is as tedious as twice-told tale, vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man.
Reality is, you know, the tip of an iceberg of irrationality that we've managed to drag ourselves up onto for a few panting moments before we slip back into the sea of the unreal.
All bad precedents begin as justifiable measures.
There's been such a sense that there's one set of rules for trillion-dollar financial institutions and a different set for all the rest of us. It's so pervasive that it's not even hidden.
Prayer gives a channel to the pent-up sorrows of the soul, they flow away, and in their stead streams of sacred delight pour into the heart.
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