[1] In many of those who seem utterly free from the love of
money, it is only dormant; like the thirst for blood in
that tiger which, captured when a cub, was brought up as a
household pet, but showed itself to be a tiger indeed when,
licking a slight wound in its master's hand, it first
tasted blood. So, many who appear to be utterly free from
the love of money are so simply because they have never
possessed more than sufficed for their bare necessities.
Let them possess more, and avarice will show itself. This
is the explanation of the familiar fact, that many who
become prosperous become niggardly; they may continue to
give, but it is always in a steadily diminishing proportion
to their income (H. E. I., 4013; P. D., 3068, 3488).