She always gives it to us mixed with the stuff that weakens it--this dross and brimstone.
Nature hands out no bonanzas, no lead-pipe cinches to mankind.

Man must claw for everything he gets, and when he gets it, it is mixed with dirt.
And if he wants it clean, he'll have to clean it with the labor of his hands.

"Why can't we have a different system than this ?" I heard a theorist complain.

"I'll bite," I said.

"Why can't we ?" And I went on boiling out the impurities in my puddle.
Man's nature is like iron, never born in a pure state but always mixed with elements that weaken it.