The Brothers Karamazov
the evil-doers, shun above all things that feeling. Go at once
and seek suffering for yourself, as though you were your-
self guilty of that wrong. Accept that suffering and bear it
and your heart will find comfort, and you will understand
that you too are guilty, for you might have been a light to
the evil-doers, even as the one man sinless, and you were
not a light to them. If you had been a light, you would have
lightened the path for others too, and the evil-doer might
perhaps have been saved by your light from his sin. And
even though your light was shining, yet you see men were
not saved by it, hold firm and doubt not the power of the
heavenly light. Believe that if they were not saved, they will
be saved hereafter. And if they are not saved hereafter, then
their sons will be saved, for your light will not die even
when you are dead. The righteous man departs, but his light
remains. Men are always saved after the death of the deliv-
erer. Men reject their prophets and slay them, but they love
their martyrs and honour those whom they have slain. You
are working for the whole, are acting for the future. Seek no
reward, for great is your reward on this earth: the spiritual
joy which is only vouchsafed to the righteous man. Fear not
the great nor the mighty, but be wise and ever serene. Know
the measure, know the times, study that. When you are left
alone, pray. Love to throw yourself on the earth and kiss
it. Kiss the earth and love it with an unceasing, consuming
love. Love all men, love everything. Seek that rapture and
ecstasy. Water the earth with the tears of your joy and love
those tears. Don’t be ashamed of that ecstasy, prize it, for it
is a gift of God and a great one; it is not given to many but