It suddenly seemed to me that I was lonely, that every one was forsaking me and going away from me. Of course, any one is entitled to ask who "every one" was. For though I had been living almost eight years in Petersburg I had hardly an acquaintance. But what did I want with acquaintances? I was acquainted with all Petersburg as it was.

I must add... my gratitude to you for the attention with which you have listened to me, for, from my numerous observations, our Liberals are never capable of letting anyone else have a conviction of his own without at once meeting their opponent with abuse or even something worse.

Love children especially, for they too are sinless like the angels; they live to soften and purify our hearts and, as it were, to guide us.

What matters," said the prince at last, "is that you have a child's trusting nature and extraordinary truthfulness. Do you know that a great deal can be forgiven you for that alone?

... you simply can't imagine what men will say!

Deprived of meaningful work, men and women lose their reason for existence; they go stark, raving mad.

I swear to you, sirs, that excessive consciousness is a disease--a genuine, absolute disease.