Why do the greedy want to amass even greater fortunes? A huge amount of money cannot bring happiness. You would spend your whole life protecting what you have, nervously watching the stock-market, harbouring suspicions about every tradesman, supplier, accountant and lawyer.

You cannot spend all your wealth, even given three lifetimes. What then are you doing it for? To leave to your children? It will do them no good at all. To give to charity? Great idea, but imagine the daily deluge of begging letters and phone calls? Or are you doing it as an entry ticket to new friendships or social circles? In which case you are seriously deluded. The world is well supplied with fair weather friends.

Epictetus was right. Epicurus agreed.