The poor live on the wealth of the rich and that is the reason why that wealth is sacred.
 Anatole France, Penguin Island (1908). copy citation

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Author Anatole France
Source Penguin Island
Topic wealth reason
Date 1908
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1930/1930-h/1930-h.htm

Context

“We have, then, only to consider the public interest and to do what it requires. Now, Father, what it requires, what it demands, is not to ask much from those who possess much, for then the rich would be less rich and the poor still poorer. The poor live on the wealth of the rich and that is the reason why that wealth is sacred. Do not touch it, to do so would be an uncalled for evil. You will get no great profit by taking from the rich, for they are very few in number; on the contrary you will strip yourself of all your resources and plunge the country into misery.” source