Sublime

for until now neither their wisdom nor the ardor of their hearts has been able to create another, higher image of man and his dignity than the image shown of old by Christ.

Here the devil is struggling with God, and the battlefield is the human heart.

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

Because even if my back were already half flayed, that mountain still wouldn’t move at my word or cry.

Such things you love not with your mind, not with logic, but with your insides, your guts, you love your first young strength … Do you understand any of this blather, Alyoshka, or not?” Ivan suddenly laughed.

So, now I see you, and you don’t look sick at all! God be with you, really, you’ll live another twenty years! With all the people you’ve got praying for you, how could you be sick!”

So I, too, have hopes that though I doubted once, I’ll be forgiven if I shed tears of repentance.”

“You’re not an evil man, you’re just twisted,”