As I was studying him one wintry evening in the snow-covered streets of St. Albans where I first met him, strange thoughts filled my head. Under those tattered rags dwelled a spirit of purest sapphire. The inscrutable writ of destiny had put him upon this path. But as he spoke to me, in calm happy tones, of diverse spiritual matters, I felt my mind being steadily raised by the tremendous power of his dynamic thoughts to a sublimer state. I sensed his amazing peace, his godlike realization, his cosmic outlook, his profoundly impersonal feeling, and I knew that the man before me would not willingly change his lot for that of any millionaire on earth. Hard to understand, this, but there are a few who will grasp my meaning. I do not preach poverty as a path to peace. But I do say that unless you have found inner wealth, unless your success exists within your heart and thoughts and conscience also, the external symbol of an all-powerful checkbook is a mockery and may even prove a curse as well.
-- Notebooks Category 24: The Peace within You > Chapter 3 : Practise Detachment > # 84
