有一個守財奴把所有的家產都變賣了，換成了金塊，並秘密地埋在了牆角。他總是擔心金塊會被別人偷走，於是每天都走去看著自己的寶藏。一個住在附近的牧羊人經過一段時間的觀察，知道了守財奴的秘密。於是在守財奴離開之後，就把他的金塊偷走了。第二天，守財奴發現洞中的金塊不見了，便放聲痛哭。一個人路過見他如此悲痛，問明原委後，安慰他道： “喂，朋友，別再傷心了，你用一石頭代替金塊重新放進洞裏，然後把它想象成金塊，你就會很高興了。這和你擁有真正的金塊效果是相同的。因為在我看來，你擁有那金塊時，也並沒有好好利用過它。 ”
一切財物如不使用等於沒有。
A Miser sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold，which he buried ihe ground by the side of an old wall ao look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot aents. He soohe secret of the hidden treasure， and digging dowhe lump of gold，ahe Miser，o，found the hole empty aear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighb him overe with grief ahe cause，said，‘Pray do go aone，ahe hole，and fancy that the gold is still lyi will do you quite the same service；for when the gold was there，you had it not，as you did he slightest use of it.”
Wealth not used is wealth that does .