Мертві душі
Chapter 3
ButmayIaskwhetherthegreatfortuneofwhichyouspeakhasbeenacquiredthroughhonestmeans?”
“Yes;throughmeansofthemostirreproachablekind—throughthemosthonourableofmethods.”
“YetsoimprobabledoesitseemthatIcanscarcelybelieveit.ThousandsIcouldunderstand,butmillions—!”
“Onthecontrary,tomakethousandshonestlyisafarmoredifficultmatterthantomakemillions.Millionsareeasilycomeby,foramillionairehasnoneedtoresorttocrookedways;thewayliesstraightbeforehim,andheneedsbuttoannexwhatsoeverhecomesacross.Norivalwillspringuptoopposehim,fornorivalwillbesufficientlystrong,andsincethemillionairecanoperateoveranextensiveradius,hecanbring(asIhavesaid)twoorthreeroublestobearuponanyoneelse’sone.Consequently,whatinterestwillhederivefromathousandroubles?Why,tenortwentypercent.attheleast.”
“Anditisbeyondmeasuremarvellousthatthewholeshouldhavestartedfromasinglekopeck.”
“Haditstartedotherwise,thethingcouldneverhavebeendoneatall.Suchisthenormalcourse.Hewhoisbornwiththousands,andisbroughtuptothousands,willneveracquireasinglekopeckmore,forhewillhavebeensetupwiththeamenitiesoflifeinadvance,andsonevercometostandinneedofanything.Itisnecessarytobeginfromthebeginningratherthanfromthemiddle;fromakopeckratherthanfromarouble;fromthebottomratherthanfromthetop.Foronlythuswillamangettoknowthemenandconditionsamongwhichhiscareerwillhavetobecarved.
