Collective madness for money polarizes people, distancing them from one another. There is no mutual trust and respect. There are self-centeredness and cruelty towards others on the part of the wealthy, and diffidence and **** on the part of the poor. Collective madness affects every individual because he too has his share of guilt in giving too much value for money. This is clear from the fact that no individual is able to part with money with equanimity of heart. There are pangs and tremors every time an individual has to give one pound or ten pounds away. However, an individual cannot be held solely responsible for the evil of moneymindedness. He cannot escape the negative impact of the system which is money-centred.
When money is needed even for basic necessities of life, he cannot say that he will remain free of money-mindedness. His whole life is a struggle to make enough money to make both ends meet. He knows that, without money, he ceases to be an entity for others. His dread is being at the receiving end of charity that would divest him of all dignity. He knows that some bread would be thrown at him to keep him alive, but it would be done so scornfully that it is equal to eating dirt.
