Money

In Book I of the Republic, Socrates states on 330 c "For the most part, those who do not make money themselves are that way. Those who do make it are twice as attached to it as the others. For just as poets are fond of their poems and fathers of their children, so money-makers too are serious about money - as their own product; and they also are serious about it for the same reason other men are - for it's use. They are, therefore, hard even to be with because they are willing to praise nothing but wealth."

While this seems to be correct at face value, a more careful examination of it can say otherwise. People who inherit money can either not be attached to it because they didn't earn it, or they can become spoiled thanks to it. I've been able to observe many of these people thanks to attending not only a rich, private university, but a rich, private school too. And more often than not, people who grow up in rich households and inherit lots of wealth tend to be spoiled. It's the only way of life they know, where many things are given to them. When dealing with people who make money; Socrates' assumption is correct in a way. Look no further than to Wall St. and out current financial crises. However, there are those who make money and use it not to please themselves (like Bernie Madoff did), but to please others. My Grandfather grew up in the Great Depression and worked his way up to a financial advisor. He is now a millionaire - but you wouldn't know it. This is because he praises other things such as family, faith, and friends way above wealth. It's people like this that earn their wealth not for themselves, but for others. All this to say, when dealing with large amounts of money (be it through inheritance or work) it is best to have a reason (other than getting rich and pleasing yourself) behind it all. This could be a spiritual reason (i.e. Church offering), humanitarian reason (i.e. donating for Haiti's recovery), or for a family member (i.e. helping them financially with their education, real estate, etc.). Earning money for those reasons will prevent you from becoming hard and only praising wealth - as Socrates states.