Love of money Quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne
““Sometimes, moreover, he made personal application to individuals, holding out his small black palm, and otherwise plainly signifying his excessive desire for whatever filthy lucre might happen to be in anybody’s pocket. The mean and low, yet strangely manlike expression of his wilted countenance; the prying and crafty glance, that showed him ready to gripe at every miserable advantage; his enormous tail (too enormous to be decently concealed under his gabardine), and the deviltry of nature which it betokened, — take this monkey just as he was, in short, and you could desire no better image of the Mammon of copper coin, symbolizing the grossest form of the love of money. Neither was there any possibility of satisfying the covetous little devil.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1850
A vivid portrayal of greed as a corrupting, animalistic force that dominates a person’s character and actions.
In simple terms: Greed turns people into monstrous, selfish beings.
Key Takeaway
Beware how money can dominate your behavior.
Themes
greed
corruption
materialism
Mood
cynical
critical
Type
literary
descriptive
When to use this quote
- business negotiations
- political lobbying
- personal finance
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
human nature
psychology
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does wealth influence your values?
- Can you recognize greed in yourself?
A Different Perspective
Greed can also be motivated by survival or societal pressure.
![“[...] There are tales among us that you have sold yourself to the devil, and I know not what.' 'We all have, have we not?' returned the stranger, looking up. 'If we were fewer in number, perhaps he would give better wages.” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/442/charles-dickens-34_money_there-are-tales-among-us-that-you-have-s_1688596.jpg)
