Nescit naturam mutare pecunia puram.
(Medieval)

Money does not know how to change a pure nature.

pron = NEHS-kit nah-TOO-rah moo-TAH-ray peh-KOO-nee-ah POO-rahm.

Comment: This proverb without a context (as far as I know) immediately
makes me ponder our most recent political season, and it matters not
whether you are red or blue.

Money, used to pummel us with commercials. Money, that lobbyists
receive to influence government. Money, that lobbyists obtain for
their "employers". Money, that legislators "pork" over for their
districts in covert ways.

Where is this pure nature that cannot be corrupted by such money?
This proverb pretends an easy dichotomy between purity and impurity.
The reality of human life is much more complext, and much more gray
than "pure" and "impure" would suggest.

What the proverb does raise is the question of integrity. How much
money would it take to purchase my pure nature? There's a nice and
disturbing thing to ponder on a Monday morning after elections.