Michel de Montaigne

“ Demades the Athenian condemned a man of the Citie, whose trade was to sell such necessaries as belonged to burials, under colour, hee asked too much profit for them: and that such profit could not come unto him without the death of many people. ”

“ Honour it selfe, and practice of religious ministers, is drawne from our death and vices. 'No physitian delighteth in the health of his owne friend,' saith the ancient Greeke Comike: 'nor no Souldier is pleased with the peace of his citie, and so of the rest.' And which is worse, let every man sound his owne conscience, hee shall finde that our inward desires are for the most part nourished and bred in us by the losse and hurt of others ”

“ This judgement seemeth to be i ll taken, because no man profiteth but by the losse of others: by which reason a man should condemne all manner of gaine. The Merchant thrives not but by the licentiousnesse of youth ”