"We merchants had no hand in the arrangement of life, nor do we have a voice or a hand in it today.

Life was arranged by others, and it is they that multiplied all sorts of scabs in life--idlers and poor unfortunates; and since by multiplying them they obstructed life and spoilt it--it is, justly judging, now their duty to purify it.

But we are purifying it, we contribute money for the poor, we look after them--we, judge it for yourself, why should we mend another's rags, since we did not tear them?
Why should we repair a house, since others have lived in it and since it belongs to others?
Were it not wiser for us to step aside and watch until a certain time how rottenness is multiplying and choking those that are strangers to us?
They cannot conquer it, they have not the means to do it.

Then they will turn to us and say: 'Pray, help us, gentlemen!' and we'll tell them: 'Let us have room for our work! Rank us among the builders of this same life!' And as soon as they do this we, too, will have to clear life at one sweep of all sorts of filth and chaff.

Then the Emperor will see with his clear eyes who are really his faithful servants, and how much wisdom they have saved up while their hands were idle.