You can’t alter society, or hinder people in general from being
helpless and vulgar—from letting themselves fall into slavery to the
things about them if they are rich, or from aping the habits and vices
of the rich if they are poor. But you may live simple, manly lives
yourselves, speaking your own thought, paying your own way, and doing
your own work, whatever that may be. You will remain gentlemen so long
as you follow these rules, if you have to sweep a crossing for your
livelihood. You will not remain gentlemen in anything but the name, if
you depart from them, though you may be set to govern a kingdom.