Leo Tolstoy

“ Although he was going to do something for the peasants which they never dared even to think of, his conscience was troubled. The peasants stood in a fine, drizzling rain, waiting to hear what their master had to say, and Nekhludoff was so confused that he could not open his mouth. The calm, self-confident German came to his relief. This strong, overfed man, like Nekhludoff himself, made a striking contrast to the emaciated, wrinkled faces of the peasants, and the bare shoulder-bones sticking out from under their caftans. ”

“ All you have to do is to take the money. And what sins you will spare yourself——­”
“The sin is on you,” said the German. “If you would only work and keep things in order——­”
“We cannot, Vasily Karlych,” said a lean old man with a pointed nose. “You ask, Who let the horse feed in the field? ”