"The essence of Equal Heaven lies in equality for all, with no class divisions, oppression, or slaughter..."
"It must not only achieve tremendous material abundance, but also eliminate class disparities and the oppression and slaughter people inflict upon one another."
"But such an ideal society could never arise through natural development. Mei Xuan, do you know why?"
Having followed Li Chen for so many years, Mei Xuan had already gained a deep understanding of his ideals and principles. At his question, she immediately answered, "The claim that all people are born equal is nothing more than a beautiful platitude. No matter how you examine it, people are not equal."
Li Chen said, "Exactly. Equality of all things, equality for all-how could that be easy?"
"I firmly believe in equality of personhood, but people are born different. Some are clever, others dull; some strong, others weak. Then there are their circumstances, encounters, backgrounds, and opportunities. Far too many factors can influence a person's status and ultimate achievements."
"In this world, the vast majority of people are ordinary souls who accomplish little. They are born and grow up without any worth, and pass away without any worth. Perhaps they can contribute a brick or tile to the development of the human world as a whole, but ultimately, theirs is only the glow of a firefly."
"Only when countless ordinary people are added together can their influence be called immense."
"Who will ride the tides, who will govern rise and fall-that is truly difficult to predict."
Mei Xuan said, "So you want to eliminate these disparities by converting people's bodies into puppet mechanical bodies?"
Li Chen said, "Exactly. Family background, circumstances, encounters-I am not a Great Power who controls causality and fate, so I cannot change those things yet. Even a Great Power