Avarice Quote by Lord Dunsany
““Alderic, Knight of the Order of the City and the Assault, hereditary Guardian of the King's Peace of Mind, a man not unremembered among the makers of myth, pondered so long upon the Gibbelins' hoard that by now he deemed it his. Alas that I should say of so perilous a venture, undertaken at dead of night by a valorous man, that its motive was sheer avarice! Yet upon avarice only the Gibbelins relied to keep their larders full, and once in every hundred years sent spies into the cities of men to see how avarice did, and always the spies returned again to the tower saying that all was well. It may be thought that, as the years went on and men came by fearful ends on that tower's wall, fewer and fewer would come to the Gibbelins' table: but the Gibbelins found otherwise. ("The Hoard Of The Gibbelins")””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: The Hoard Of The Gibbelins, 1914
A knight’s greed leads him to a treasure guarded by avaricious beings, revealing that endless desire fuels both human and mythical exploitation.
In simple terms: Greed drives endless cycles of exploitation.
Key Takeaway
Beware the endless pursuit of wealth.
Themes
greed
myth
exploitation
power
eternity
Mood
cautionary
thoughtful
Type
mythical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- adventure
- wealth acquisition
- ethical decision-making
Key Concepts
human desire
mythical guardians
moral caution
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives the knight beyond greed?
- Can wealth be pursued responsibly?
A Different Perspective
The tale assumes avarice is the sole motivator, ignoring other possible values like duty or curiosity.
