I delight to lodge in such temples as are not regularly kept closed. None of the gods reject me; they make me partner of their roof.
Apollonius Of TyanaRead
A man must fortify himself and understand that a wise man who yields to laziness or anger or passion or love of drink, or who commits any other action prompted by impulse and inopportune, will probably find his fault condoned; but if he stoops to greed, he will not be pardoned, but render himself odious as a combination of all vices at once.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of self-control and the severe consequences of giving in to greed.
Apollonius of Tyana cautions that while a wise individual may face forgiveness for succumbing to various impulses such as laziness, anger, or passion, greed is distinctively detrimental. He suggests that greed not only leads to personal failure but also results in being viewed as despicable due to its association with multiple vices, highlighting the need for self-discipline and moral integrity.
Themes
Self-ControlGreedVicesImpulseWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth, one might quote this to emphasize the dangers of complacency and greed.
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If you have problems of conduct that are difficult and hard to settle, I will furnish you with solutions, for I not only know matters of practice and duty, but I even know them beforehand.
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O ye gods, grant unto me to have little and to want nothing.
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