The word agriculture was coined in the 15th-century, but the process of cultivating the land to grow food has been in existence for much longer. Early farmers developed crops and livestock mainly to feed their families and local people.
Professor Faber is a retired English professor. He is a self-described coward, whom Montag turns to when he fails to understand the content of the books he's collected. Montag pushes Faber into conspiring with him to create change, although Faber believes they're too late to have any real effect. Montag's actions inspire the professor, however. It is Faber's voice in Montag's ear (via a two-way radio) that allows Montag to cope with Captain Beatty. Faber also reads to Montag through the earpiece, thus allowing Montag to hear and unknowingly retain literature.
Faber compares their superficial society to flowers trying to live on flowers instead of on good, substantive dirt: people are unwilling to accept the basic realities and unpleasant aspects of life. Faber says that people need quality information, the leisure to digest it, and the freedom to act on what they learn. He defines quality information as a textured and detailed knowledge of life, knowledge of the âporesâ on the face of humanity.