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Lucius Annaeus SenecaEpistula 75.11 ad Lucilium Quid inter morbos animi intersit et adfectus, saepe iam dixi. Nunc quoque te admonebo: morbi sunt inveterata vitia et dura, ut avartia, ut ambitio; nimino artius haec animum inplicuerunt et perpetua eius mala esse coeperunt. Ut breviter finiam morbus est iudicium in pravo pertinax, tamquam valde expetenda sint, quae leviter expeteuda sunt. Vel si mavis, ita finiamus: nimis inminere leviter petendis vel ex toto non petendis, aut in magno pretio habere. I have often before explained the difference between the diseases of the mind and its passions. And I shall remind you once more: the diseases are hardened and chronic vices, such as greed and ambition; they have enfolded the mind in too close a grip, and have begun to be permanent evils thereof. To give a brief definition: by disease we mean a persistent perversion of the judgment, so that things which are mildly desirable are thought to be highly desirable. Or, if you prefer, we may define it thus: to be too zealous in striving for things which are only mildly desirable or not desirable at all, or to value highly things which ought to be valued but slightly or valued not at all. 1st Epistula ad Timotheum 6:10 Radix enim omnium malorum est cupiditas, quam quidam appetentes erraverunt a fide et inseruerunt se doloribus multis. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.