"Quiteathome? Tobemynaturalself? Oh, thatismuchtoomuch, , blessedFather, you''triskit...., therestisstillplungedinthemistsofuncertainty, thoughtherearepeoplewho', , holybeing, letmetellyou, Iambrimmingoverwithecstasy."
Hegotup, andthrowinguphishands, declaimed, "Blessedbethewombthatbarethee, andthepapsthatgavetheesuck—, 'Don'tbesoashamedofyourself, forthatisattherootofitall,' youpiercedrightthroughmebythatremark, , IalwaysfeelwhenImeetpeoplethatIamlowerthanall, , ', foryouareeveryoneofyouworsethanIam.' , greatelder, fromshame; it', oh, Lord, whatagoodmanIshouldhavebeenthen! Teacher!" hefellsuddenlyonhisknees, "whatmustIdotogaineternallife?"
Itwasdifficultevennowtodecidewhetherhewasjokingorreallymoved.
FatherZossima, liftinghiseyes, lookedathim, andsaidwithasmile:
": don'tgivewaytodrunkennessandincontinenceofspeech; don'tgivewaytosensuallust; and, aboveall, 'tcloseall, , aboveall—don'tlie."
"YoumeanaboutDiderot?"
"No, , don', oraroundhim, , andinordertooccupyanddistracthimselfwithoutlovehegiveswaytopassionsandcoarsepleasures, andsinkstobestialityinhisvices, , isn'tit? Amanmayknowthatnobodyhasinsultedhim, butthathehasinventedtheinsultforhimself, hasliedandexaggeratedtomakeitpicturesque, hascaughtatawordandmadeamountainoutofamolehill—heknowsthathimself, yethewillbethefirsttotakeoffense, andwillrevelinhisresentmenttillhefeelsgreatpleasureinit, , sitdown, , too, isdeceitfulposturing...."
"Blessedman! Givemeyourhandtokiss."
