The public outcry over the remarks by Beijing Normal University professor Dong Fan is the latest reflection of how people are saddened and maddened by the increasing money worship permeating our society.

Dong, a professor of real estate, told his graduate students in his micro blog on April 4 that they should not "visit him or mention him as their mentor if they cannot amass a fortune of 40 million yuan ($6.1 million) by the age of 40.

"For highly educated people, poverty means disgrace and failure," Dong said.