Page 668 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Chapter 20

Vronsky’s life was particularly happy in that he had a
code of principles, which defined with unfailing certitude
what he ought and what he ought not to do. This code of
principles covered only a very small circle of
contingencies, but then the principles were never
doubtful, and Vronsky, as he never went outside that
circle, had never had a moment’s hesitation about doing
what he ought to do. These principles laid down as
invariable rules: that one must pay a cardsharper, but need
not pay a tailor; that one must never tell a lie to a man,
but one may to a woman; that one must never cheat
anyone, but one may a husband; that one must never
pardon an insult, but one may give one and so on. These
principles were possibly not reasonable and not good, but
they were of unfailing certainty, and so long as he adhered
to them, Vronsky felt that his heart was at peace and he
could hold his head up. Only quite lately in regard to his
relations with Anna, Vronsky had begun to feel that his
code of principles did not fully cover all possible
contingencies, and to foresee in the future difficulties and
perplexities for which he could find no guiding clue.

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