CHAPTER 71 O Money, Money, Money; what a great word on the tongue.
2 It tastes of all fine things, and I cannot stop repeating it to myself.
3 But is anyone listening? How many times do I have to say it before I hear an answering jingle in my pocket?
4 O Money, Money, Money; only you know the answer to that one.
CHAPTER 81 aIs it not true that only money transcends everything? And is not money the only universal joy to be found on earth?
2 Surely, all other things are changeable, and their value cannot be agreed upon from nation to nation, nor from man to man.
3 bA woman may be beautiful in one nation, her looks a cause for worship and amazement; but somewhere else, the same woman may be reviled as fat and clumsy as a cow, and not worth a second look.
4 The same is true of other things: Truth wears a different face in every household, and cmen will tear each other limb from limb over principles and politics and ideas that they believe absolutely to be true.
5 And what other things bring joy equally to all? One can claim that the beauty of nature is constant, and yet do all men like to eat a dsheep intestine, and will no one make a face and spit it out because it offends his taste?
6 eEven the Gods change their names and images from place to place: Here the face of God is fat and round and smooth; there it is lean and dark and hairy.
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7 Nor are they the same behind their faces: One God commands worship on Sunday, another on Saturday; one commands strict fobedience and sacrifice, ganother tolerance and love.
8 hAll things are so changeable that men would plunge into chaos without some source of universal understanding: iThank goodness that you are there, O Money, to speak in a common tongue to all men.
9 For though you also wear many faces, all men can understand you.
10 All men are united by the desire to have you; and to give your blessings to others, whoever they are, in exchange for something of jvalue.
11 What a blessing this: Without it, would there still be anyone alive to worship all those so-called Gods?
CHAPTER 91 This morning I saw a coin shining in the gutter: What a kmiracle that so much delight can come from so small a thing.
2 lTruly you are a fine thing, O Money, and I feel better for having you in my pocket.
3 Nor do I have all of you; mother coins are waiting in other gutters, and maybe someday the nlittle girl will understand that, and stop crying like a baby.
CHAPTER 101 O Money, I have endured much abuse on your behalf: Men have called me venal, and mercenary, and say that I do not understand matters of the spirit.
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