The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest / The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

by Unknown

What kinds of things are these?

Riches, said I, and poverty.

Concerning Independence

By Lucretius

(Latin poet, B.C. 95-52)

But if men would live up to reason’s rules,

They would not bow and scrape to wealthy fools.

(From The Hitopadesa)

(Hindu religious work, B.C. 250)

It is better to abandon life than flatter the base. Impoverishment is better than luxury through another’s wealth. Not to attend at the door of the wealthy, and not to use the voice of petition, these imply the best life of a man.