The Buddha uses different similes to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are harsh, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.
Suvaṇṇanikkha suttādiaṭṭhaka - Beginning With Gold Coin
At Sāvatthi.
17.13
"Here, bhikkhus, I know of a certain person by directly knowing their mind with my mind in this way: 'This venerable one would not, even for the sake of a gold coin, intentionally speak a deliberate lie.'
17.14
'Nor would they speak a deliberate lie even for a hundred gold coins.'
17.15
'Nor would they speak a deliberate lie even for the sake of an ornamental gold coin.'
17.16
'Nor would they speak a deliberate lie even for a hundred ornamental gold coins.'
17.17
'Nor would they speak a deliberate lie even for the sake of the whole earth filled with gold.'
17.18
'Nor would they speak a deliberate lie for the sake of a small worldly benefit.'
17.19
'Nor would they speak a deliberate lie even for the sake of their own life.'
17.20
'Nor would they speak a deliberate lie even for the sake of a country's most beautiful woman.' I see that person at a later time, overwhelmed by acquisitions, respect, and popularity, with a mind consumed by them, speaking a deliberate lie."
Thus, bhikkhus, acquisitions, respect, and popularity are harsh, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.
Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: 'We will abandon the arisen acquisitions, respect and popularity, and we will not let the arisen acquisitions, respect, and popularity continue to occupy our minds.' Thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves."