“I do not deny that your lives are troublesome and hard, but I believe that you make your pain unnecessarily difficult to bear, and add to it by imagination.  You feel your lot to be hard because you see rich people, who in the distance appear to you to be happy.  I have already told you that the rich are an exception, and that the world cannot guarantee the existence of a millionaire of to-day for long.  At most you can make the few rich men poor, but you cannot make all the poor men rich.  But why compare yourselves with such people?  Why not with those who have gone before us?  Look back, and you will find that your lives are not only easier but very much richer than the generations who have gone before you.  The poorest among you live better, quieter, and pleasanter lives than a well-to-do man a thousand years ago, or than a prince of primitive times.  You complain that your labor is hard and unhealthy?  You live longer, in better health, and freer from anxiety than the huntsman, fisherman, or warrior of the barbarous ages.  What you most suffer from is your hatred, not your need, your ambitions, your envy.  Men can live healthily and happily on water, but you will have beer and brandy.  You earn enough to buy meat and vegetables, but you will have tobacco for yourselves and finery for your wives, and that cannot go on.  Your daily bread might taste well enough, but it becomes bitter in your mouths when you think of the millionaire’s roast meat.  Struggle then against this envy which spoils the smallest enjoyments for you, and which in point of fact rules your lives, and do not try to find happiness in the satisfaction of requirements artificially created.  Do not live for the satisfaction of your palates, but rather for the improvement of intellect and feeling.  There is enough pain and misery in the world, do not add hatred to it.  Have the same mercy for other creatures which you expect for yourself.  Trouble and danger are common to all.  Things are only bearable if all combine to pull together, if the strong join hands with the weak and the hopeful with the timid.  You will not be healed by envy and hatred, or by the goading on of your desires, but by love, by forbearance, by self-sacrifice, and renunciation.”

This closing sentence was not to his hearers’ taste.  Disapprobation and ominous sounds greeted him as he came down from the platform.  “Amen,” said one scornfully; “A Psalm,” said another; “Get thee to a nunnery, Ophelia,” cried a wit; while loud cries of “Turn him out,” were heard.  “Pearls before swine,” muttered Paul; while Schrotter pressed his hand and said:  “You are right.”