Beelzebubs-Tales-to-His-Grandson-by-G-I-Gurdjieff

"The chief cause of the gradual development of such an abnormality is, onthe one hand, the law they themselves established in regard to the rights ofparents over their children and, on the other hand, the setting up in children'sschools of what are called 'dollar savings banks,' with the aim of implanting inchildren a love of these dollars."Owing to this, and to various other peculiar external conditions ofordinary existence also established by them, this love of 'dollar business' andof dollars themselves has become, in the common presence of each of theinhabitants of this continent on reaching responsible age, the motivating forceof his 'feverish' existence."That is why every one of them is always doing 'dollar business,' andmoreover, always several at the same time."Although the 'Mister' to whom I had a letter of introduction was also verybusy with these 'dollar businesses,' he nevertheless received me very cordiallyWhen he read the letter of introduction I presented, a strange process began inhim, which has been noticed even by certain of your favorites—it havingbecome inherent in contemporary beings—and which they call 'unconsciouspreening. '"And this strange process took place in him because the letter I presentedmentioned the recommendation of a certain other 'Mister' of my acquaintance,who in the opinion of many, and also of this Mister, was considered, andcalled behind his back, a 'smart operator,' that is to say, a 'dollar expert.'"Although at first he was completely in the grip of this inherency, properto your contemporary favorites, nevertheless, as he talked with me, hegradually calmed down, and eventually told me that he was 'ready to placehimself entirely at my disposal.' Suddenly, however, he rememberedsomething, and added that to his profound regret, owing to circumstancesentirely beyond his control, he could do nothing for me that day, but wouldhave to postpone things until