Page 536 - the-brothers-karamazov

not yet come, but it will come in due course. And if it come
not, no Matter; if not he, then another in his place will un-
derstand and suffer, and judge and condemn himself, and
the truth will be fulfilled. Believe that, believe it without
doubt; for in that lies all the hope and faith of the saints.
Work without ceasing. If you remember in the night as
you go to sleep, ‘I have not done what I ought to have done,’
rise up at once and do it. If the people around you are spite-
ful and callous and will not hear you, fall down before them
and beg their forgiveness; for in truth you are to blame for
their not wanting to hear you. And if you cannot speak to
them in their bitterness, serve them in silence and in hu-
mility, never losing hope. If all men abandon you and even
drive you away by force, then when you are left alone fall
on the earth and kiss it, water it with your tears and it will
bring forth fruit even though no one has seen or heard you
in your solitude. Believe to the end, even if all men went
astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your
offering even then and praise God in your loneliness. And
if two of you are gathered together — then there is a whole
world, a world of living love. Embrace each other tenderly
and praise God, for if only in you two His truth has been
fulfilled.
If you sin yourself and grieve even unto death for your
sins or for your sudden sin, then rejoice for others, rejoice
for the righteous man, rejoice that if you have sinned, he is
righteous and has not sinned.
If the evil-doing of men moves you to indignation and
overwhelming distress, even to a desire for vengeance on