Years ago, one of the most popular shows on television was "Candid Camera," which captured people's funny reactions to situations on a hidden camera.
One setup that I remember in particular was a little grocery store that put a big table heaped with oranges outside with a sign that said "FREE." They purposely didn't leave anything to carry the oranges in. Predictably, everyone tried to take three or four more oranges than they could carry. Their hilarious reactions at being busted for being so greedy usually included embarrassment.
Greed is one of the most dangerous emotions. It makes people act irrationally and foolishly. Greed clouds your judgment. That's why in the investment community they say bulls and bears make money, and pigs get slaughtered.
Businesses that overcharge or take advantage of their customers often end up spending more to fix their reputations than they made in the first place. That is, if they stay in business at all. One way or another, they will get slaughtered.
Our materialistic society urges us to accumulate more. We "need" a bigger house, a bigger car, a bigger TV. We see other people with more stuff, and we want more.
Let's face it: Few of us would ever turn down a pay increase. It's natural to want more. The quandary lies in deciding how much more is enough. There's no crime in accumulating money or things. The problem arises when the quest for more dominates all else.
The Merriam-Webster definition describes greed as "a selfish and excessive desire for more of something than is needed."
The key word is "excessive."