And the main thing is, I
know what to say to people. But now I will go. I can't believe, and
therefore I must go. I know, mother, that the people's souls are
foul and besmirched. All live on envy, all want to gorge themselves;
and since there's little to eat, each seeks to eat the other up."
He let his head droop, and remained absorbed in thought for a while.
Finally he said:
"I'll go all by myself through village and hamlet and stir the
people up. It's necessary that the people should take the matter
in their own hands and get to work themselves. Let them but
understand--they'll find a way themselves. And so, I'm going to
try to make them understand. There is no hope for them except in
themselves; there's no understanding for them except in their own
understanding! And that's the truth!"
"They will seize you!" said the mother in a low voice.
"They will seize me, and let me out again. And then I'll go ahead again!"
"The peasants themselves will bind you, and you will be thrown into jail."
"Well, I'll stay in jail for a time, then be released, and I'll go
on again. As for the peasants, they'll bind me once, twice, and
then they will understand that they ought not to bind me, but listen
to me.
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