Temptation

"Which do you want more, money or a self-respecting and trustworthy friend?"(Handbook of Etpictetus section 24)This is a question that most wealthy people have to ask themselves. Which eventually leads to: Does he/she really want me for me, or for my money? Why wouldn’t someone want you for your money? As far as I know money has always been a strong variable to bend morals. Money is temptation. The everlasting curse of wanting what you can’t have. (Or at least shouldn’t have.)
I find it funny how some people say that temptation and longing what you can’t have is taught to us by society thereby corrupting our pure beings. I think it’s purely carnal. For example this test that was done to kinder gardeners.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWW1vpz1ybo They all contemplated the idea of going against what they were told. Challenging authority to get what they want.
Anyway, going back to the original statement. Epictetus implys the importance of friendship or a relationship. I find it interesting how he writes this section. Like a dialogue (between friends). I'm not sure if this is him using metafiction but it is surely no coincidence that he talks about frienship to us through a friendly dialogue.