The real sting of Horace's observation lies not in condemning wealth itself, but in naming the peculiar servitude that follows from thoughtlessness—money demands mastery precisely because it offers none of its own. A person who drifts into spending without intention doesn't merely lose their paycheck; they've surrendered the authority to decide what their life means. Consider the friend who takes out a third credit card to pay the minimum on the first two: they've become so entangled in obligation that each small purchase now steers the ship. The distinction Horace draws suggests that financial wisdom isn't about deprivation, but about the clarity to know the difference between choosing your expenses and being chosen by them.