He felt that this was said of him, but he did not turn around to see who it was that flung those words at him. The rich people, who had inspired him with timidity before, were now losing in his eyes the witchery of their wealth and wisdom. They had more than once snatched out of his hands this or that profitable contract; he clearly saw that they would do it again, and they all seemed to him alike--greedy for money, always ready to cheat one another. When he imparted to his godfather his observation, the old man said: “How then? Business is just the same as war--a hazardous affair. There they fight for the purse, and in the purse is the soul.” “I don’t like this,” announced Foma. “Neither do I like everything--there’s too much fraud. “But to be fair in business matters is utterly impossible; you must be shrewd! In business, dear, on approaching a man you must hold honey in your left hand, and clutch a knife in your right. Everybody would like to buy five copecks’ worth for a half a copeck.” “Well, this isn’t too good,” said Foma, thoughtfully. “But it will be good later. When you have taken the upper hand, then it will be good. Life, dear Foma, is very simple: either bite everybody, or lie in the gutter.” The old man smiled, and the broken teeth in his mouth roused in Foma the keen thought: “You have bitten many, it seems.” “There’s but one word--battle!” repeated the old man. “Is this the real one?” asked Foma, looking at Mayakin searchingly. “That is, what do you mean--the real?” “Is there nothing better than this? Does this contain everything?” “Where else should it be? Everybody lives for himself. Each of us wishes the best for himself. And what is the best? To go in front of others, to stand above them. So that everybody is trying to attain the first place in life--one by this means, another by that means. But everyone is positively anxious to be seen from afar, like a tower. And man was indeed appointed to go upward. Even the Book of Job says: ‘Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks, to fly upward.’ Just see: even children at play always wish to surpass one another. And each and every game has its climax, which makes it interesting. Do you understand?” “I understand this!” said Foma, firmly and confidently. “But you must also feel this. With understanding alone you cannot go far, and you must desire, and desire so that a big mountain should seem to you but a hillock, and the sea but a puddle. Eh! When I was of your age I had an easy life, while you are only taking aim. But then, good fruit does not ripen early.”