But someone who has reached the peak of human wisdom will respond differently. He will say, "First of all, you have no right to judge people who are better than you. I already have proof of my virtue — bad people hate me. But I'll give you a straight answer, since I don't refuse anyone that courtesy. Listen to what I believe and how I value everything. Wealth, I say, is not good. If it were good, it would make people good. But since we find wealth even among bad people, it can't be called good. Still, I admit that wealth is desirable and useful. It brings real comfort to our lives."
But he who has reached the summit of human perfection will deal otherwise with you, and will say, "In the first place, you have no business to allow yourself to sit in judgment upon your betters:" I have already obtained one proof of my righteousness in having become an object of dislike to bad men: however, to make you a rational answer, which I grudge to no man, listen to what I declare, and at what price I value all things. Riches, I say, are not a good thing; for if they were, they would make men good: now since that which is found even among bad men cannot be termed good, I do not allow them to be called so: nevertheless I admit that they are desirable and useful and contribute great comforts to our lives.