BP GEOGRAPHIC

“’Is money so important for your people?’ [Winnetou] asked after the pause.

‘Yes, everything turns around money,’ I admitted.

‘Is it… why you joined the land-grabbers [railway construction]?’ he asked with long pauses as if every word had caused him pain.

‘In our world everybody says that happiness is about money,’ I explained.

‘And you believe this? It’s a mistake! Gold made the Indians unhappy. The gold brought the palefaces who chase us out from our ancient lands. It’s the gold that causes the demise of the Indian tribes. Don’t tell me that gold is the happiness.’

‘I didn’t mean this’, I said. ‘I know that health, wisdom, honesty, and friendship are worth more.’”

(Karl May – “Winnetou 1”)