The soil was given to rich and poor in common. Wherefore, O ye rich, do you unjustly claim it for yourselves alone?
—Hildebrand, Pope Gregory the Great.
(See also March 11)
Hmmm. Googling this, it appears to be from St. Ambrose. (See December 21 for another):
| Upton Sinclair, ed. (1878–1968). The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest. 1915. |
| The Voice of the Early Church. V. |
By St. Ambrose |
(Latin; 340?–397) |
| HOW far, O rich, do you extend your senseless avarice? Do you intend to be the sole inhabitants of the earth? Why do you drive out the fellow sharers of nature, and claim it all for yourselves? The earth was made for all, rich and poor, in common. Why do you rich claim it as your exclusive right? The soil was given to the rich and poor in common—wherefore, oh, ye rich, do you unjustly claim it for yourselves alone? Nature gave all things in common for the use of all; usurpation created private rights. Property hath no rights. The earth is the Lord’s, and we are his offspring. The pagans hold earth as property. They do blaspheme God. |
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