a little silver

One day a rich but miserly Hasid came to a Rabbi for counsel.  The Rabbi led him to the window. "Look out there," he said, "and tell me what you see."

"People," answered the rich man.

Then the rabbi led him to a mirror, "What do you see now?" he asked.

"I see myself," answered the Hasid.

The Rabbi said, "Behold -- in the window there is glass and in the mirror there is glass.  But the glass of the mirror is covered with a little silver, and no sooner is a little silver added than you cease to see others and see only yourself."