If you received a cow and some land today you'd surely sell it, but if you received it when he wrote this.. I'm not so sure this choice would be obvious. Also,

If you received a cow and some land today you'd surely sell it, but if you received it when he wrote this.. I'm not so sure this choice would be obvious. Also, I guess the point he makes is not getting a cow for it's own sake, but receiving tools/support to become independent - from landlords, from some businesses, etc. Freedom, even in not so great conditions, is freedom, which is arguably better than golden handcuffs.