Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness.

Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness

Infinite riches in a little room.

As their wealth increaseth, so enclose / Infinite riches in a little room.

When workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their skill in covetousness, And oftentimes excusing of a fault Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse, As patches set upon a little breach Discredit more in hiding of the fault Than did the fault before it was so patched.

We covet what is guarded; the very care invokes the thief. Few love what they may have. [Lat., Quicquid servatur, cupimus magis: ipsaque furem Cura vocat. Pauci, quod sinit alter, amant.]