為窮困、飢餓、空幻所苦，為世人所忘，既不能獲得任何榮耀，也不能得人同情，平平凡凡過其一生。

世上最瘋顛、最無恥之輩是商人，因為他們用最不誠正的方法做最下賤的事。
他們競爭說謊，又幹偽證、竊盜、詐欺、侵佔他人財物之類的勾當。
但因為他們手指上環繞著金戒指，以致認為自己深受他人敬重。
那些馬屁精也從旁邊敲邊鼓，並在眾人之前稱之為"主公"。
因為這些馬屁精想從商人那兒分得一些以非法手段獲取的錢財。

the most foolish and basest of all others are our merchants, to wit such as venture on everything be it never so dishonest, and manage it no better; who though they lie by no allowance, swear and forswear, steal, cozen, and cheat, yet shuffle themselves into the first rank, and all because they have gold rings on their fingers. Nor are they without their flattering friars that admire them and give them openly the title of honorable, in hopes, no doubt, to get some small snip of it themselves.

命運女神喜歡魯莽、思慮欠週的人，亦即喜歡哪些愛說"擲命運之骰"的人。
智慧使人膽怯。因而，賢人們時為窮困、飢餓、空幻所苦，為世人所忘，
既不能獲得任何榮耀，也不能得人同情，平平凡凡過其一生。
愚人卻可獲得財富，掌握國家大權，總之，在各方面都榮耀非凡。
如果幸福可獲君王寵信，可參與寶石裝點的諸神陣營，智慧又有何用?
豈止如此，勿寧說智慧為這些人所惡，可不是嗎?

如果你想獲得財富，有智慧的商人能得到多少利潤?
因為這些商人討厭偽誓，說謊便面紅耳赤，對詐欺或高利貸也總以賢人的心思為是。
即使希望教會的高位與財富，驢子與牛馬也比賢人早日達成。
如果想獲得快樂，女人也比較喜歡接近愚人，他們見賢人就像碰到毒蛇猛獸一般，避之唯恐不及。
最後，如果有人想快樂地享受人生，首先要遠離賢人，情願跟碰面的野獸來往。
總而言之，目之所見，無論教皇、君王、法官、市長、朋友或仇敵，不問貧富貴賤，莫不一味追逐金錢。
賢人既然蔑視金錢，所以最好避免跟賢人在一起。

Fortune loves those that have least wit and most confidence and such as like that saying of Caesar, "The die is thrown." But wisdom makes men bashful, which is the reason that those wise men have so little to do, unless it be with poverty, hunger, and chimney corners; that they live such neglected, unknown, and hated lives: whereas fools abound in money, have the chief commands in the commonwealth, and in a word, flourish every way. For if it be happiness to please princes and to be conversant among those golden and diamond gods, what is more unprofitable than wisdom, or what is it these kind of men have, may more justly be censured?

If wealth is to be got, how little good at it is that merchant like to do, if following the precepts of wisdom, he should boggle at perjury; or being taken in a lie, blush; or in the least regard the sad scruples of those wise men touching rapine and usury. Again, if a man sue for honors or church preferments, an ass or wild ox shall sooner get them than a wise man. If a man's in love with a young wench, none of the least humors in this comedy, they are wholly addicted to fools and are afraid of a wise man and fly him as they would a scorpion. Lastly, whoever intend to live merry and frolic, shut their doors against wise men and admit anything sooner. In brief, go whither you will, among prelates, princes, judges, magistrates, friends, enemies, from highest to lowest, and you'll find all things done by money; which, as a wise man condemns it, so it takes a special care not to come near him.