Marcus Cato used to praise Curius and Coruncanius and that generation when owning even a few silver coins was seen as corruption that censors would punish. Yet Cato himself owned four million sesterces. This was certainly less than Crassus had, but much more than his great-grandfather Cato the Censor ever owned. When you compare the amounts, Cato had surpassed his great-grandfather by more than Crassus had surpassed him. And if even greater wealth had come his way, he wouldn't have rejected it. The wise person doesn't think he's unworthy of good fortune. He doesn't love riches, but he'd rather have them than not. He doesn't let them into his heart, just into his house. He doesn't throw away what he already has. Instead, he keeps it and welcomes the chance for his virtue to be tested on a larger scale.
Marcus Cato, when he was praising Curius and Coruncanius and that century in which the possession of a few small silver coins were an offence which was punished by the Censor, himself owned four million sesterces; a less fortune no doubt, than that of Crassus, but larger than of Cato the Censor. If the amounts be compared, he had outstripped his great-grandfather further than he himself was outdone by Crassus, and if still greater riches had fallen to his lot, he would not have spurned them: for the wise man does not think himself unworthy of any chance presents: he does not love riches, but he prefers to have them; he does not receive them into his spirit, but only into his house: nor does he cast away from him what he already possesses, but keeps them, and is willing that his virtue should receive a larger subject-matter for its exercise.