Sacred-Texts Christianity Angelus Silesius
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293 (II. 56)
POVERTY AND RICHES
The man who, what he hath, hath not, To all things stands indifferent, He is most poor when he is rich, Most rich when he is indigent. |
294 (III. 69)
THE SAINT'S WEALTH
Be poor! On earth the Saint hath naught Save one thing, which unwillingly He needs must call his own, to wit, This Body of Mortality. |
295 (II. 148)
THE POOR IN SPIRIT
That man is truly poor who stands Detached from all things, loose, adrift: Were God to offer him Himself I know he would refuse the gift. |
296 (III. 139)
MAN FINDETH WHAT HE SEEKETH
The poor man seeketh God, the rich man seeketh wealth: 'Tis gold indeed the poor man finds, the rich man filth. |
297 (V. 157)
THE RICH MAN IS TRULY POOR
When of his poverty he maketh much ado, Doubt not the Rich Man's word—he speaketh what is true. |
298 (VI. 185)
OUR WEALTH MUST BE WITHIN US
Be all thy Wealth within thyself. If lie thy riches otherwhere, Yea, though thy fortune were the world, Then art thou rich in naught but Care. |
299 (VI. 189)
TO DESIRE EVERYTHING IS TO HAVE NOTHING
Man, if desire for Everything Possesseth all thy thought, Then art thou poor as beggars are And still possessest Naught. |
300 (VI. 86)
WHO CRAVETH ALL HATH NAUGHT
Who craveth Naught hath All. Who yearneth to possess The riches of the world, he still is penniless. |
301 (VI. 84)
THE GREATEST WEALTH AND GAIN
Most Wealth hath he who Wealth doth most disdain, And gaineth most who most renounceth Gain. |
302 (VI. 168)
THE WISE MAN HATH NAUGHT IN COFFERS
Naught doth the Wise Man heard in guarded treasuries: Riches that can be lost he never counteth his. |
303 (VI. 99)
THE TREASURY OF THE WISE MAN AND THE MISER
Wise Men are wisely rich—the put Their gold into a treasure-chest: The Miser's gold is in his heart— His heart hath never any rest. |
304 (VI. 167)
HE WHO IS TRULY RICH
Much having is not being rich. The Wealthy Man is he Who views the loss of all he hath With equanimity. |
305 (VI. 100)
THE WISE MAN FORESTALLS THE THIEF
The Wise Man doth not wait until His fortune is bereft: He steals his foretune from himself And so forestalls the theft. |
306 (VI. 103)
NO PROGRESS WHEN HEAVILY LADEN
Storm-foundered seamen jettison The weightiest cargo in the hold; And thinkest thou to win to Heaven O'erladen with a freight of gold? |
307 (VI. 179)
HOW MISERS AND WISE MEN ACT
The Miser leaves his gold at last, Heirs seize on his inheritance: The Wise Man to the other world Sends on his riches in advance. |
308 (V. 132)
THE UNCONCERNED MAN SUFFERETH NO HURT
The man who in this world claims nothing for his own, Suffereth no great loss when all his house falls down. |
309 (V. 156)
WHO DESIRETH MUCH, LACKETH MUCH
Who hath enough, hath all. Who craveth more and more, Betrayeth by his want how scanty is his store. |
310 (VI. 181)
THE ESTIMATION OF THE FOOL AND THE WISE MAN
The Fool thinks he is rich enough If he possess a sack of gold: The Wise Man knoweth he is poor With riches not the world can hold. |