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Stoicism

The Stoics saw the world as a single great community in which all men are brothers, ruled by a supreme providence which could be spoken of, almost according to choice or context, under a variety of names or descriptions including the devine reason, creative reason, nature, the spirit or purpose of the universe, destiny, a personal god, even (by way of concession to traditional religion) 'the gods'. It is man's duty firstly, bringing his life into line with 'nature's laws', and secondly, resigning himself completely and uncomplainingly to whatever fate may send him. Only be living thus, and not setting too high a value on things which can at any moment be taken away from him, can he discover that true, unshakeable peace and contentment to which ambition, luxury, and above all avarice are the greatest obstacles.

Letter from a Stoic, Seneca 1969, Penguin Books, intro., p. 15.

Stoicism (capitalized) a systematic philosophy, dating from around 300 b.c., that held the principles of logical thought to reflect a cosmic reason instantiated in nature.

Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

avarice - 1. An excessive or inordinate desire of gain
2. An inordinate desire for some supposed good.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.