Page 519 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Chapter 1

Sergey Ivanovitch Koznishev wanted a rest from
mental work, and instead of going abroad as he usually
did, he came towards the end of May to stay in the
country with his brother. In his judgment the best sort of
life was a country life. He had come now to enjoy such a
life at his brother’s. Konstantin Levin was very glad to
have him, especially as he did not expect his brother
Nikolay that summer. But in spite of his affection and
respect for Sergey Ivanovitch, Konstantin Levin was
uncomfortable with his brother in the country. It made
him uncomfortable, and it positively annoyed him to see
his brother’s attitude to the country. To Konstantin Levin
the country was the background of life, that is of pleasures,
endeavors, labor. To Sergey Ivanovitch the country meant
on one hand rest from work, on the other a valuable
antidote to the corrupt influences of town, which he took

with satisfaction and a sense of its utility. To Konstantin
Levin the country was good first because it afforded a field
for labor, of the usefulness of which there could be no
doubt. To Sergey Ivanovitch the country was particularly
good, because there it was possible and fitting to do
nothing. Moreover, Sergey Ivanovitch’s attitude to the

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