Others show traits of stinginess from "summary" of The Characters by Theophrastus
Some people are so miserly that they make Scrooge look like a spendthrift. They pinch pennies so tightly that even the copper cries out in agony. These individuals have a pathological fear of parting with their money, as if each coin were a piece of their own flesh. They will haggle over the smallest of sums, arguing that a single drachma saved is a drachma earned. Their purses are like bottomless pits, into which no coin may escape without a fight. Their stinginess extends beyond mere frugality; it is a way of life, a philosophy that governs every aspect of their existence. They will wear threadbare clothing, eat meager meals, and live in squalid conditions rather than part with a denarius. Their stinginess is not limited to material possessions, however. They are also miserly with their time, attention, and affection. They hoard these things as if they were precious jewels, reluctant to share them with anyone, even their closest kin. The stingy are often blind to their own miserliness, believing themselves to be prudent and wise. They see nothing wrong with counting every obolus or refusing to lend a friend a coin in their hour of need. To them, generosity is a sign of weakness, a character flaw that they have managed to overcome. They take pride in their thriftiness, boasting of the bargains they have secured and the debts they have avoided. But beneath their facade of frugality lies a deep-seated insecurity, a fear of scarcity that drives their every action. They are haunted by the specter of poverty, convinced that a single misstep could plunge them into destitution. They cling to their possessions like a drowning man clings to a life raft, unable to see that true wealth lies not in what one hoards but in what one gives freely. Until they learn to let go of their fear and embrace the joy of sharing, they will remain prisoners of their own stinginess.Similar Posts
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