Association with city people
is not as good as friendship with elderly
peasants. Calling on upper-class mansions is not
as good as getting to know peasant homes. Listening
to the talk of the streets and alleys is not as good as hearing
the songs of the woodcutters and shepherds. Talking
about the moral failures and professional blunders
of people today is not as good as retelling
the fine words and noble deeds
of people of old.