The Brothers Karamazov: A Novel in Four Parts With Epilogue

For the mystery of man’s being is not only in living, but in what one lives for. Without a firm idea of what he lives for, man will not consent to live and will sooner destroy himself than remain on earth, even if there is bread all around him.

Pouring out their foolish tears, they will finally acknowledge that he who created them rebels no doubt intended to laugh at them.

But you did not know that as soon as man rejects miracles, he will at once reject God as well, for man seeks not so much God as miracles.

And so, turmoil, confusion, and unhappiness—these are the present lot of mankind, after you suffered so much for their freedom!

There is nothing more seductive for man than the freedom of his conscience, but there is nothing more tormenting either.

It’s enough for me that you are here somewhere, and I shall not stop wanting to live. Is that enough for you?

He had often felt anguish before, and it would be no wonder if it came at such a moment, when he was preparing, the very next day, having suddenly broken with everything that had drawn him there, to make another sharp turn, entering upon a new, completely unknown path, again quite as lonely as before, having much hope, but not knowing for what, exp

“Abandon your gods and come and worship ours, otherwise death to you and your gods!”

Who knows, maybe this accursed old man, who loves mankind so stubbornly in his own way, exists even now, in the form of a great host of such old men, and by no means accidentally, but in concert, as a secret union, organized long ago for the purpose of keeping the mystery, of keeping it from unhappy and feeble mankind with the aim of making them ha