A wise man won't give up his right to good fortune. He won't brag about his wealth, but he won't be ashamed of it either — as long as he earned it honestly. In fact, he'll have something even better to brag about. He can throw open his doors and invite everyone in his country to look at his possessions. He can say, "If anyone sees something here that belongs to them, take it." What a great man! How truly rich he would be if, after making that offer, he still has everything he started with! So I say this: if a man can let the public examine his finances without fear, and no one can point to anything and say "that's mine," then that man can enjoy his wealth openly and without shame.
Such a man will not forfeit his right to the favour of Fortune, and will neither boast of his inheritance nor blush for it if it was honourably acquired: yet he will have something to boast of, if he throw his house open, let all his countrymen come among his property, and say, "If any one recognizes here anything belonging to him, let him take it." What a great man, how excellently rich will he be, if after this speech he possesses as much as he had before! I say, then, that if he can safely and confidently submit his accounts to the scrutiny of the people, and no one can find in them any item upon which he can lay hands, such a man may boldly and unconcealedly enjoy his riches.