ItisnaturalforuswhowerenotlivinginthosedaystoimaginethatwhenhalfRussiahadbeenconqueredandtheinhabitantswerefleeingtodistantprovinces, andonelevyafteranotherwasbeingraisedforthedefenseofthefatherland, allRussiansfromthegreatesttotheleastweresolelyengagedinsacrificingthemselves, savingtheirfatherland, -sacrifice, patrioticdevotion, despair, grief, , andtheyweretheverypeoplewhoseactivitiesatthatperiodweremostuseful.
Thosewhotriedtounderstandthegeneralcourseofeventsandtotakepartinitbyself-sacrificeandheroismwerethemostuselessmembersofsociety, theysaweverythingupsidedown, andalltheydidforthecommongoodturnedouttobeuselessandfoolish—likePierre'sandMamonov'sregimentswhichlootedRussianvillages, andthelinttheyoungladiespreparedandthatneverreachedthewounded, , fondofintellectualtalkandofexpressingtheirfeelings, whodiscussedRussia', .
, ladies, andgentlemeninmilitiauniforms, weptforRussiaanditsancientcapitalandtalkedofself-sacrificeandsoon; butinthearmywhichretiredbeyondMoscowtherewaslittletalkorthoughtofMoscow, andwhentheycaughtsightofitsburnedruinsnoonesworetobeavengedontheFrench, buttheythoughtabouttheirnextpay, theirnextquarters, ofMatreshkathevivandiere, andlikematters.
