Fire, water, and money are good servants, but bad masters.
水火金钱是忠仆,使用不当是祸首。
Among these I would list string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened, to save buying these two requisites.
这些东西中我想举出线绳和包装纸为例。节俭的人们打开包裹后便把这两样必备的东西收藏起来。省得日后去买。