Yes, the laws of self-preservation and of self-destruction are equally powerful in this world. The devil will hold his empire over humanity until a limit of time which is still unknown. You laugh? You do not believe in the devil? Scepticism as to the devil is a French idea, and it is also a frivolous idea. Do you know who the devil is? Do you know his name? Although you don't know his name you make a mockery of his form, following the example of Voltaire. You sneer at his hoofs, at his tail, at his horns—all of them the produce of your imagination! In reality the devil is a great and terrible spirit, with neither hoofs, nor tail, nor horns; it is you who have endowed him with these attributes! But… he is not the question just now!
Što će mi takva osveta,što će mi pakao za mučitelje,što tu pakao može popraviti kad je dijete već nastradalo?I kakva je to harmonija ako postoji pakao:ja želim oprostiti i želim sve zagrliti,ja neću da ljudi i dalje pate.A ako patnje djece samo popunjavaju onu količinu patnje koja je potrebna da se otkupi istina,onda unaprijed tvrdim da sva istina ne vrijedi toga.Na kraju krajeva,ja ne želim da se majka grli s krvnikom koji joj je dao rastrgati sina!Postoji li na cijelom svijetu biće koje bi moglo i imalo pravo oprostiti?Ja ne želim harmoniju,ne želim je iz ljubavi prema čovječanstvu.Radije ću ostati sa svojim neosvećenim patnjama.Radije ću ostati na svojoj neosvećenoj patnji i na svom neiskaljenom ogorčenju,makar i ne bio u pravu.Pa i previsoku su cijenu odredili toj harmoniji,nije za naš džep tolika ulaznina.I zato hitam da vratim svoju ulaznicu.Ako sam pošten čovjek,dužan sam je što prije vratiti.To upravo i činim.Nije da ja Boga ne priznajem,Aljoša,nego mu samo najponiznije vraćam ulaznicu.
...he was by no means expansive, and talked little indeed, but not from shyness or a sullen unsociability; quite the contrary, from something different, from a sort of inner preoccupation entirely personal and unconcerned with other people, but so important to him that he seemed, as it were, to forget other on account of it.
Fyodor Pavlovitch was drunk when he heard of his wife's death, and the story is that he ran out into the street and began shouting with joy, raising his hands to Heaven: "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace," but others say he wept without restraint like a little child, so much so that people were sorry for him, in spite of the repulsion he inspired. It is quite possible that both versions were true, that he rejoiced at his release, and at the same time wept for her who released him.
Do not be afraid of anything, never be afraid, and do not grieve. Just let repentance not slacken in you, and God will forgive everything. There is not and cannot be in the whole world such a sin that the Lord will not forgive one who truly repents of it. A man even cannot commit so great a sin as would exhaust God’s boundless love. How could there be a sin that exceeds God’s love? Only take care that you repent without ceasing, and chase away fear altogether. Believe that God loves you so as you cannot conceive of it; even with your sin and in your sin he loves you. And there is more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ten righteous men4—that was said long ago. Go, then, and do not be afraid. Do not be upset with people, do not take offense at their wrongs. Forgive the dead man in your heart for all the harm he did you; be reconciled with him truly. If you are repentant, it means that you love. And if you love, you already belong to God … With love everything is bought, everything is saved. If even I, a sinful man, just like you, was moved to tenderness and felt pity for you, how much more will God be. Love is such a priceless treasure that you can buy the whole world with it, and redeem not only your own but other people’s sins. Go, and do not be afraid.
And that we are all responsible to all for all, apart from our own sins, you were quite right in thinking that, and it is wonderful how you could comprehend it in all its significance at once. And in very truth, so soon as men understand that, the Kingdom of Heaven will be for them not a dream, but a living reality.