His use of these terms, especially the first, is ambiguous. At times he means material goods only; again, like Ruskin, he includes every human good, intellectual and moral as well;80 again he means “excessive wealth.”81 As a result of his conception of value, he includes in material wealth all those objects that depend for their worth upon wise use and character in the possessor.82
Material wealth is regularly placed last by Plato, as inferior to all other goods of soul or body, a mere means, and not an end in itself,83 for virtue does not come from property, but property and all other goods from virtue.84
Material goods should be the last thing in one’s thought,85 and the fact that people universally put them first is the cause of many ills to state and individual alike.86
Wealth is not blind, if only it follows wisdom.87 The things usually called goods are not rightly so named, unless the possessor be just and worthy.88 To the base, on the other hand, they are the greatest evil.89
In all of this, Plato is the forerunner of Ruskin, with his characteristic assertions:
“Only so much as one can use is wealth, beyond that is illth”; and “Wealth depends also on vital power in the possessor.”90
Plato especially inveighs against excessive wealth and luxury.91 Men are urged not to lay up riches for their children, since great wealth is of no use to them or the state.92 The prime object of good legislation should not be, as is commonly supposed, to make the state as rich as possible,93 since excessive wealth and luxury decrease productive efficiency,94 are incompatible with the highest character or happiness, being based on