They were beyond the reach of appreciation before appreciation came.
There is an Eastern legend of a powerful genius, who promised a beautiful maiden a gift of rare value if she would pass through a field of corn and, without pausing, going backward, or wandering hither and thither, select the largest and ripest ear,--the value of the gift to be in proportion to the size and perfection of the ear she should choose.
She passed through the field, seeing a great many well worth gathering, but always hoping to find a larger and more perfect one, she passed them all by, when, coming to a part of the field where the stalks grew more stunted, she disdained to take one from these, and so came through to the other side without having selected any.
A man may make millions and be a failure still.

Money-making is not the highest success.

The life of a well-known millionaire was not truly successful.

He had but one ambition.

He coined his very soul into dollars.