# CXXIV explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief aphorism criticizing those who justify their pursuit of wealth by claiming a love of work, arguing that such a love for money-making is a baser inclination than the love of money itself.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The chapter exposes the hypocrisy of those who rationalize greed as a love of work, revealing a corrupt moral justification.

## Key lines

> The money-getter who pleads his love of work has a lame defense, for love of work at money-getting is a lower taste than love of money.

A person who pursues wealth and claims it's because they love working is making a weak excuse, because enjoying the act of making money is even more base than simply wanting money itself.

_This aphorism critiques the moral reasoning of those who disguise greed as industriousness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/cxxiv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters