How Do You Live?

by Genzaburo Yoshino

After all, how much suffering has poverty caused in our world? How many people have been sunk in misery? How many deep-rooted conflicts have been seeded?

Think this over. Of all the things that all of us need to live, every one is the product of human labor, is it not? Even for the most lofty work in the arts and sciences, all we need is created by such people, by the sweat of their brow. Without the labor of those people, we would have no civilization, and without that, there would be no progress for society. And what about you? What will you create? You take many things from the world, but I wonder what you will give back in return?

Try not to overlook this point of difference between producers and consumers. When you look at things from this point, you’re certain to find a surprising number of utterly worthless people living in magnificent mansions and riding in their cars with their big heads held high. And you’ll find, too, among those who are most often looked down upon, that there are many people to whom we should bow our own heads.

You and your classmates ought to have humble respect for Uragawa, who, even if he can’t change his station, has, without complaint, taken on a great responsibility in helping with his family’s business. To mock that from your social position, even for a moment, is to not know your own place and is a great error.

When you think of the things you need in your daily life, you don’t produce any of them, so you are definitely a consumer. But while you may not have noticed, there is something else, a big thing that you produce day after day. What could that be?