Letter 2079: Some men delight in profits and gains; I prefer to spend on what fulfills my desires.

Some men delight in profits and gains; I prefer to spend on what fulfills my desires. The proper use of wealth lies not in accumulation but in its application to worthy purposes -- public games, the support of friends, the maintenance of estates that honor the family name. Those who die rich but ungenerous die poor in everything that matters. I write this not to boast but because your letter prompted reflections on the proper use of fortune. We are of one mind on this, I think.

Pars hominum [alii] conpendiis et quaestibus gaudent, me votiva delectat ex- pensio. itaque avidus civicae gratiae quaestoriis filii mei sumptibus studeo aliud ge- 35 nus largitotis adicere, ut curulibus stabulis nrbis aetemae etiam quina mancipia lar- IS lybica P 19 copiam] LatimWy copia P 21 par^ P 33 alii del, lurttua, aliis alii Haupt^ mali conpendii quaestibus Momm^en conpendii P 1 m, Q. AVSB14V8 STMMACaVB. 9 66 SYMMACHI EPISTVLAE P 2 giamur. et qaoniam servorum per limitem faeilis inventio et pretium solet esse tole- rabile, quam maxime te deprecor, ut per bomines strenuos viginti iuvenes praedicto negotio congruentes iubeas conparari. in quam rem .... solidos ad te misi babita aesti- matione bominum, quorum non forma sed aetas et sanitas eligenda est. LXXVnn (LXXVin) ante a. 395. 5