'Geology'-- what's that ?" Pavel explained.
"We don't need it!" Yefim said, replacing the book on the shelf.
Rybin sighed noisily, and said: "The peasant is not so much interested to know where the land came from as where it's gone to, how it's been snatched from underneath his feet by the gentry.

It doesn't matter to him whether it's fixed or whether it revolves--that's of no importance--you can hang it on a rope, if you want to, provided it feeds him; you can nail it to the skies, provided it gives him enough to eat." "'The History of Slavery,'" Yefim read out again, and asked Pavel: "Is it about us ?" "Here's an account of Russian serfdom, too," said Pavel, giving him another book.

Yefim took it, turned it in his hands, and putting it aside, said calmly: "That's out of date." "Have you an apportionment of land for yourself ?" inquired Pavel.
"We?
Yes, we have.

We are three brothers, and our portion is about ten acres and a half--all sand--good for polishing brass, but poor for making bread." After a pause he continued: "I've freed myself from the soil.

What's the use?
It does not feed; it ties one's hands.
This is the fourth year that I'm working as a hired man.