Final answer:
The quote reflects a recurring literary theme about the corrupting nature of the pursuit of wealth and acknowledges the finality of death as a consequence of actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quotation, "Death is the price--you're right. But all too often the mere hope of money has ruined many men," is a line that reflects a theme of the corrupting influence of money and the irreversible cost of certain actions, such as death. This line encapsulates a perennial problem seen throughout literature and society, where the pursuit of wealth can lead to ruin or moral decay, and where the consequences of certain actions can be as severe as death itself. This resonates with several literary works where characters face the dire consequences of their or others' actions, often intensified by the lure of wealth.