According to Maxim Gorky in his book Mother, those who persecute and kill others do so primarily to protect their wealth, including silver, gold, and financial documents. Their actions are motivated by a desire to maintain power and control through material possessions rather than defending their lives.

Gorky emphasizes that these oppressors do not fight for their own survival or internal reasons but are driven by the need to safeguard external possessions. Their violence and distortion of lives are rooted in the preservation of wealth and material goods that symbolize their authority and influence.