Zhèng Xiè

“ I think that farmers, the primary producers, are first-class people between the heaven and the earth. In contrast, we scholar-bureaucrats should be the last among the four classes, ranking after farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. The best farmer can cultivate 15 acres, the next-best a dozen acres; even the least-efficient work about 8 acres. In all cases, they till the land until their backs ache to feed everybody on earth. If there were no farmers, we’d all starve to death! ”

“ But we cannot argue for ourselves because of those rotten apples spoiling the barrel. When I tried to say something, people laugh to scorn: “Yeah yeah, you scholars can talk! When you get to be a bureaucrat, when you get on top, you won’t be such an idealist anymore!” ”

“ If we ask for more, it is coveting others’ due share, a great sin. There are people under this heaven who are without a single piece of land, without a roof over their heads. Who am I to be greedy without limit? ”