Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Shelley says gold rules like a god while despising everything but virtue.
In plain terms
Gold acts like a god and ignores all but virtue.
What can you take from it?
Money often rules society while ignoring virtue.

Where it applies

  • economic systems
  • moral reflection
  • social critique

Putting it to work

  • value virtue over wealth
  • critique materialism
  • assess priorities

Questions to consider

  • Does wealth corrupt virtue?
  • What should rule society?

Another view

The quote overlooks how wealth can enable virtuous acts.

More from Percy Bysshe Shelley

  1. Twin-sister of Religion, Selfishness! Rival in crime and falsehood, aping all The wanton horrors of her bloody play; Yet frozen, unimpassioned, spiritless, Shu…

    Permalink to quote #60
  2. A husband and wife ought to continue so long united as they love each other. Any law which should bind them to cohabitation for one moment after the decay of t…

    Permalink to quote #62
  3. Thus suicidal selfishness, that blights The fairest feelings of the opening heart, Is destined to decay, whilst from the soil Shall spring all virtue, all deli…

    Permalink to quote #59

Related quotes

  1. No radiant pearl which crested Fortune wears, No gem that twinkling hangs from Beauty's ears, Not the bright stars which Night's blue arch adorn, Nor rising su…

    Erasmus DarwinErasmus Darwin quote #3
  2. There's nothing that will change someone's moral outlook quicker than cash in large sums.

    Larry FlyntLarry Flynt quote #6
  3. Charity may cover a multitude of sins, but success transmutes them into virtues.

    Hugh KingsmillHugh Kingsmill quote #9