[E] And then one, seeing another grow rich, seeks to rival 256 him, and thus the great mass of the citizens become lovers of money.
Likely enough.
As riches increase, virtue decreases: the one is honoured, the other despised; the one cultivated, the other neglected. And so they grow richer and richer, and the more they think of making a fortune the less they think of virtue; for when riches and virtue are placed together in the scales of the balance, the one always rises as the other falls.
True.
[551] And in proportion as riches and rich men are honoured in the State, virtue and the virtuous are dishonoured.
Clearly.
And what is honoured is cultivated, and that which has no honour is neglected.
That is obvious.
And so at last, instead of loving contention and glory, men become lovers of trade and money; they honour and look up to the rich man, and make a ruler of him, and dishonour the poor man.
They do so.