There are two sorts of avarice; the one is but of a bastard kind; and that is, the rapacious appetite of gain, not for its own sake, but for the pleasure of refunding it immediately through all the channels of pride and luxury. The other is the true kind, and properly so called; which is a restless and unsatiable desire of riches, not for any further end of use, but only to hoard, and preserve, and perpetually increase them. The covetous man of the first kind is like a greedy ostrich, which devours any metal, but it is with an intent to feed upon it, and in effect it makes a shift to digest and excern it. The second is like the foolish chough, which loves to steal money only to hide it. The first does much harm to mankind, and a little good too, to some few. The second does good to none; no, not to himself. The first can make no excuse to God, or angels, or rational men for his actions. The second can give no reason or colour, not to the devil himself, for what he does: he is a slave to Mammon without wages. The first makes a shift to be beloved; aye, and envied, too, by some people. The second is the universal object of hatred and contempt.

世上有两种贪婪：一种仅仅是貌似的贪婪，那是一种贪得无厌地获取的欲望；倒不是为了自身的缘故，而是为了可以享受一种通过各种方式来显示骄傲与奢侈的一次性归还的乐趣。另一种则是实实在在、名副其实的贪婪；这才是一种永无安宁、永不知足的追求财富的欲望，根本不是出于任何进一步的目的或是为了功利，而只是为了积聚、贮藏和无休无止地增加财富。前一类中的老饕，就像一只贪食的鸵鸟,它吞食地上一切坚硬之物，它是有意从中得到滋养，实际上它也确实千方百计地把东西消化和排泄掉。后一类人则像愚笨的红嘴山鸦，它之喜欢偷钱，仅仅是为了将钱藏起来而已。前者对为类危害甚大，然而对少数人也会有些好处；而后者则对任何人都一无好处，包括对他自己。前者无法为自己的行为向上帝或天使或明白事理的人寻找借口；而后者对于自己的所作所为无法向魔鬼说明原委或是加以粉饰：他成了财神玛门的奴隶，一个得不到酬报的奴隶。前者想方设法使自己让人爱戴，甚至让人嫉妒；后者则是人们普遍仇恨和蔑视的对象。