Quotes: Brothers Karamazov ~ Father Paissy

(trans. Garnett)

Book I Part 4 Chapter 1 Father Ferapont



(Father Paissy to Aloysha)



"Remember, young man, unceasingly," Father Paissy began, without preface, "that the science of this world, which has become a great power, has, especially in the last century, analysed everything divine handed down to us in the holy books. After this cruel analysis the learned of this world have nothing left of all that was sacred of old. But they have only analysed the parts and overlooked the whole, and indeed their blindness is marvellous. Yet the whole still stands steadfast before their eyes, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Has it not lasted nineteen centuries, is it not still a living, a moving power in the individual soul and in the masses of people? It is still as strong and living even in the souls of atheists, who have destroyed everything! For even those who have renounced Christianity and attack it, in their inmost being still follow the Christian ideal, for hitherto neither their subtlety nor the ardour of their hearts has been able to create a higher ideal of man and of virtue than the ideal given by Christ of old. When it has been attempted, the result has been only grotesque.

Pevear Volokhonsky trans.
Father Paissy: "Remember young man, unceasingly...
http://books.google.com/books?id=z1k_AxXUvmEC&lpg=PP1&lr&pg=PA171#v=onepage&q=%22Remember,%20young%20man%20unceasingly&f=false