Why do you plant trees that do nothing but give shade? Why does your wife wear earrings that cost as much as a rich man's house? Why do your children go to school dressed in expensive clothes? Why do you need trained servants at your dinner table? Why isn't your silver just thrown down carelessly, but arranged with skill in perfect order, with a special servant to carve the meat?' Add these questions if you want: 'Why do you own property overseas? Why do you own more than you even know about? You should be ashamed that you don't recognize your own slaves by sight. Either you're neglecting them because you only have a few, or you're wasteful because you have too many to remember.'
why do you plant trees which afford nothing except shade? why does your wife wear in her ears the price of a rich man's house? why are your children at school dressed in costly clothes? why is it a science to wait upon you at table? why is your silver plate not set down anyhow or at random, but skilfully disposed in regular order, with a superintendent to preside over the carving of the viands?" Add to this, if you like, the questions "Why do you own property beyond the seas? why do you own more than you know of? it is a shame to you not to know your slaves by sight: for you must be very neglectful of them if you only own a few, or very extravagant if you have too many for your memory to retain."