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“After a few moments he went on, ‘Suppose we take you as
an example. You are not a bad sort of man, so far as I can
see. You are, besides, very intelligent. Now then! Can you
conscientiously say, with your hand on your heart, that you
fully discharge your duty to every one? Can you keep an eye
on everybody? Yet your duties are not extraordinarily
extensive. How, then, can you manage that a Government shall
know everything, control everything, keep watch over
everything? The result is general disorder, general lying?—what
the devil do you want with a Government then?’
“‘But one can’t get along without authorities. Disorder,
crime, and theft would ensue. The strongest would always get
his way, and lord it over everybody. Suppose that I fancied
your waistcoat. I am stronger than you, and simply take it
from you. What will you do with me ?’
“‘What will I do with you? The waistcoat cost three
roubles, and to get it back I spend ten. I ask you if that is
worth while? Moreover, to protect my waistcoat I have to
pay you, inspector, and maintain police, warders, judges. The
waistcoat is truly not worth all that.’
“‘How would you arrange life, then?’
“‘In the first place, I shouldn’t arrange life at all. I am by
myself, I need nothing. That is all. As for the rest, if you
are strong and will do me an injury, there are twenty others as
weak as I, and we will handle you in such a fashion that you
won’t want to do an injury to any one else.’
“‘There would be endless quarrels.’
“‘Don’t you worry! We shall get on very well without you,’
said the man, positively.
“His ideas on patriotism were cosmopolitan.
“‘For you,’ he said, ‘there are Russians, Germans, Tartars.
For me there are only men and brothers. The only difference
is that they speak a different language from mine. As for you
others, you quarrel continually, you carry on war, you never
have elbow-room enough. In my way of thinking there is
enough land, water, and air for all. Give men freedom, leave
them in peace, and there will be no more strife.’
“He was a mild and peaceable man, inoffensive in his conduct
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