What piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me: no...
The Grand Inquisitor from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
For those who have not read the Brothers Karamazov, a brief explanation will give the context. Ivan, the second oldest in trio of brothers, speaks to his younger sibling, Alyosha, about various things pertaining to religion and God. Alyosha, who has decided to join the clergy, believes himself pious and displays the arrogance of one so young who has devoted himself to the church out of "compassion for his fellow man". What begins as pity toward his older brother, develops into horror and finally a sense of understanding. If you enjoyed this, read the rest of the novel. It is filled with gems such as this.
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