# CXLVII explained — Short Works

> Chapter companion for Short Works by Epictetus.

## What happens

A brief, aphoristic piece of advice that prioritizes moral character over material wealth, suggesting that modesty is a more valuable inheritance for children than gold.

## Themes in this chapter

### Moderation and Simplicity

The excerpt explicitly contrasts the value of a virtuous trait (modesty) with material wealth (gold), advocating for the cultivation of character over the accumulation of possessions.

### Practical Ethics and Self-Discipline

The advice is a direct, practical instruction on parenting and legacy, focusing on instilling a specific ethical quality (modesty) as a core component of a good life.

## Key lines

> The same person advised to leave modesty to children rather than gold.

It is better to bequeath the quality of modesty to your children than to leave them a fortune in gold.

_A concise maxim elevating moral inheritance above financial inheritance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/epictetus_short_works_se/chapters/cxlvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/epictetus_short_works_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/epictetus_short_works_se/chapters