Instead of envying these unhappy people, I pity them from the bottom of my heart.

I would prefer death a thousand times to life without duty and work." The murmur grew stronger and more threatening.
"I wish," cried Wilhelm, raising his voice, "I wish I were rich and powerful.

Then I would invite those who scorn my words now, to live quite idly for a year or six months.

I would take care that no employment was possible for them, that their days and weeks should be quite empty.

Then they would see how soon they would raise imploring hands to those who had condemned them to idleness.