Clement of Alexandria: Heap on Wealth

Posted by admin on Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Clement of Alexandria Money Quote saying that the rich admire little beyond wealth and self-entitlement, which is full of pride. Clement of Alexandria said:
 

 

“Contemptuous of absolutely everything in the world except the wealth which is the cause of their being admired … they carry fire to fire, when they shower pride upon pride, and heap on wealth, heavy by its own nature, the heavier burden of arrogance” — Clement of Alexandria

 

 

In this quote, Clement of Alexandria is criticizing those who are contemptuous or disdainful of everything except wealth, which is the sole cause of their being admired by others. He suggests that these people pile arrogance upon arrogance by adding pride to their already considerable wealth and possessions.

Clement implies that wealth itself is heavy or burdensome by its nature, and that by also layering arrogance on top of it, they make their burden even heavier to bear.

Overall, he appears to be condemning those whose sole pursuit is the accumulation of wealth in order to gain admiration, and who respond to gaining wealth by growing even more arrogant and prideful rather than showing humility.