,P>T #b 

#ahhbahhb 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,SOME DAY ,I WILL N>RATE ! T\*+ & 9/RUCTIVE HI/ORY 
( MY LIFE DUR+ ?OSE T5 YE>S ( MY Y\?4 ,I ?9K V]Y MANY 
PEOPLE HAVE HAD A LIKE EXP]I5CE4 ,) ALL MY S\L ,I WI%$ TO BE 
GOOD1 BUT ,I WAS Y\NG1 PASSIONATE & ALONE1 COMPLETELY ALONE :5 
,I S\<T GOODNESS4 ,EV]Y TIME ,I TRI$ TO EXPRESS MY MO/ S9C]E 
DESIRE1 :I* WAS TO BE MORALLY GOOD1 ,I MET ) CONTEMPT & 
RIDICULE1 BUT AS SOON AS ,I YIELD$ TO L[ PASSIONS ,I WAS PRAIS$ 
& 5C\RAG$4 

,AMBITION1 LOVE ( P[]1 COVET\SNESS1 LASCIVI\SNESS1 PRIDE1 
ANG]1 & REV5GE - W]E ALL RESPECT$4 

,YIELD+ TO ?OSE PASSIONS ,I BECAME LIKE ! GR[N-UP FOLK & 
FELT ?AT !Y APPROV$ ( ME4 ,! K9D AUNT ) :OM ,I LIV$1 
H]SELF ! PURE/ ( BE+S1 ALWAYS TOLD ME ?AT !RE WAS NO?+ 
%E SO DESIR$ = ME AS ?AT ,I %\LD HAVE RELATIONS ) A 
M>RI$ WOMAN3 ',RI5 NE =ME UN JU5E HOMME1 COMME UNE LIAISON 
AVEC UNE FEMME COMME IL FAUT'4 .<,FOOTNOTE3 ,NO?+ SO =MS A 
Y\NG MAN AS AN 9TIMACY ) A WOMAN ( GOOD BRE$+4.> ,ANO!R 
HAPP9ESS %E DESIR$ = ME WAS ?AT ,I %\LD BECOME AN AIDE-DE- 
CAMP1 & IF POSSIBLE AIDE-DE-CAMP TO ! ,EMP]OR4 ,BUT ! 
GREATE/ HAPP9ESS ( ALL W\LD BE ?AT ,I %\LD M>RY A V]Y RI* 
GIRL & SO BECOME POSSESS$ ( AS MANY S]FS AS POSSIBLE4 

,I CANNOT ?9K ( ?OSE YE>S )\T HORROR1 LOA?+ & 
HE>TA*E4 ,I KILL$ M5 9 W> & *ALL5G$ M5 TO DUELS 9 
ORD] TO KILL !M4 ,I LO/ AT C>DS1 CONSUM$ ! LABOR ( ! 
PEASANTS1 S5T5C$ !M TO PUNI%M5TS1 LIV$ LOOSELY1 & 
DECEIV$ PEOPLE4 ,LY+1 ROBB]Y1 ADULT]Y ( ALL K9DS1 
DRUNK5NESS1 VIOL5CE1 MURD] - !RE WAS NO CRIME ,I DID NOT 
COMMIT1 & 9 SPITE ( ?AT PEOPLE PRAIS$ MY CONDUCT & MY 
CONTEMPOR>IES CONSID]$ & CONSID] ME TO BE A COMP>ATIVELY 
MORAL MAN4 

,SO ,I LIV$ = T5 YE>S4 

,DUR+ ?AT TIME ,I BEGAN TO WRITE FROM VANITY1 COVET\SNESS1 
& PRIDE4 ,9 MY WRIT+S ,I DID ! SAME AS 9 MY LIFE4 TO GET 
FAME & MONEY1 = ! SAKE ( :I* ,I WROTE1 IT WAS NECESS>Y TO 
HIDE ! GOOD & TO DISPLAY ! EVIL4 & ,I DID SO4 ,H[ (T5 9 
MY WRIT+S ,I CONTRIV$ TO HIDE UND] ! GUISE ( 9DIFF]5CE1 OR 
EV5 ( BANT]1 ?OSE /RIV+S ( M9E T[>DS GOODNESS :I* GAVE 
MEAN+ TO MY LIFE6 ,& ,I SUCCE$$ 9 ?IS & WAS PRAIS$4 

,AT TW5TY-SIX YE>S ( AGE .<,FOOTNOTE3 ,HE WAS 9 FACT #bg AT ! 
TIME4.> ,I RETURN$ TO ,PET]SBURG AFT] ! W>1 & MET ! WRIT]S4  
,!Y RECEIV$ ME AS ONE ( !MSELVES & FLATT]$ ME4 ,& BE=E 
,I HAD TIME TO LOOK R\ND ,I HAD ADOPT$ ! VIEWS ON LIFE ( ! SET 
( AU?ORS ,I HAD COME AMONG1 & !SE VIEWS COMPLETELY OBLIT]AT$ 
ALL MY =M] /RIV+S TO IMPROVE - !Y FURNI%$ A !ORY :I* 
JU/IFI$ ! DISSOLUT5ESS ( MY LIFE4 

,! VIEW ( LIFE ( !SE PEOPLE1 MY COMRADES 9 AU?OR%IP1 
CONSI/$ 9 ?IS3 ?AT LIFE 9 G5]AL GOES ON DEVELOP+1 & 9 
?IS DEVELOPM5T WE - M5 ( ?\<T - HAVE ! *IEF P>T2 & 
AMONG M5 ( ?\<T IT IS WE - >TI/S & POETS - :O HAVE ! 
GREATE/ 9FLU5CE4 ,\R VOCATION IS TO TEA* MANK9D4 ,& LE/ 
! SIMPLE QUE/ION %\LD SUGGE/ ITSELF3 ,:AT DO ,I KN[1 & :AT 
CAN ,I TEA*8 IT WAS EXPLA9$ 9 ?IS !ORY ?AT ?IS NE$ NOT BE 
KN[N1 & ?AT ! >TI/ & POET TEA* UNCONSCI\SLY4 ,I WAS 
CONSID]$ AN ADMIRABLE >TI/ & POET1 & !RE=E IT WAS V]Y 
NATURAL = ME TO ADOPT ?IS !ORY4 ,I1 >TI/ & POET1 WROTE & 
TAU<T )\T MYSELF KN[+ :AT4 ,= ?IS ,I WAS PAID MONEY2 ,I 
HAD EXCELL5T FOOD1 LODG+1 WOM51 & SOCIETY2 & ,I HAD FAME1 
:I* %[$ ?AT :AT ,I TAU<T WAS V]Y GOOD4 

,?IS FAI? 9 ! MEAN+ ( POETRY & 9 ! DEVELOPM5T ( 
LIFE WAS A RELIGION1 & ,I WAS ONE ( ITS PRIE/S4 ,TO BE ITS 
PRIE/ WAS V]Y PLEASANT & PR(ITABLE4 ,& ,I LIV$ A 
CONSID]ABLE TIME 9 ?IS FAI? )\T D\BT+ ITS VALIDITY4 ,BUT 
9 ! SECOND & /ILL MORE 9 ! ?IRD YE> ( ?IS LIFE ,I BEGAN 
TO D\BT ! 9FALLIBILITY ( ?IS RELIGION & TO EXAM9E IT4 ,MY 
FIR/ CAUSE ( D\BT WAS ?AT ,I BEGAN TO NOTICE ?AT ! PRIE/S ( 
?IS RELIGION W]E NOT ALL 9 ACCORD AMONG !MSELVES4 ,SOME SAID3 
,WE >E ! BE/ & MO/ USEFUL TEA*]S2 WE TEA* :AT IS NE$$1 
BUT ! O!RS TEA* WRONGLY4 ,O!RS SAID3 ,NO6 WE >E ! REAL 
TEA*]S1 & Y\ TEA* WRONGLY4 & !Y DISPUT$1 QU>REL$1 
ABUS$1 *EAT$1 & TRICK$ ONE ANO!R4 ,!RE W]E ALSO MANY 
AMONG US :O DID NOT C>E :O WAS RI<T & :O WAS WRONG1 BUT W]E 
SIMPLY B5T ON ATTA9+ !IR COVET\S AIMS BY MEANS ( ?IS 
ACTIVITY ( \RS4 ,ALL ?IS OBLIG$ ME TO D\BT ! VALIDITY ( \R 
CRE$4 

,MOREOV]1 HAV+ BEGUN TO D\BT ! TRU? ( ! AU?ORS' 
CRE$ ITSELF1 ,I ALSO BEGAN TO OBS]VE ITS PRIE/S MORE ATT5TIVELY1 
& ,I BECAME CONV9C$ ?AT ALMO/ ALL ! PRIE/S ( ?AT 
RELIGION1 ! WRIT]S1 W]E IMMORAL1 & = ! MO/ P>T M5 ( 
BAD1 WOR?LESS *>ACT]1 MU* 9F]IOR TO ?OSE :OM ,I HAD MET 9 
MY =M] DISSIPAT$ & MILIT>Y LIFE2 BUT !Y W]E SELF- 
CONFID5T & SELF-SATISFI$ AS ONLY ?OSE CAN BE :O >E QUITE 
HOLY OR :O DO NOT KN[ :AT HOL9ESS IS4 ,!SE PEOPLE REVOLT$ 
ME1 ,I BECAME REVOLT+ TO MYSELF1 & ,I REALIZ$ ?AT ?AT FAI? 
WAS A FRAUD4 

,BUT /RANGE TO SAY1 ?\< ,I UND]/OOD ?IS FRAUD & 
R5\NC$ IT1 YET ,I DID NOT R5\NCE ! RANK !SE PEOPLE GAVE ME3 
! RANK ( >TI/1 POET1 & TEA*]4 ,I NAIVELY IMAG9$ ?AT ,I 
WAS A POET & >TI/ & C\LD TEA* EV]YBODY )\T MYSELF 
KN[+ :AT ,I WAS TEA*+1 & ,I ACT$ ACCORD+LY4 

,FROM MY 9TIMACY ) !SE M5 ,I ACQUIR$ A NEW VISE3 
ABNORMALLY DEVELOP$ PRIDE & AN 9SANE ASSURANCE ?AT IT WAS MY 
VOCATION TO TEA* M51 )\T KN[+ :AT4 

,TO REMEMB] ?AT TIME1 & MY [N /ATE ( M9D & ?AT ( 
?OSE M5 7?\< !RE >E ?\S&S LIKE !M TODAY71 IS SAD & 
T]RIBLE & LUDICR\S1 & >\SES EXACTLY ! FEEL+ ONE 
EXP]I5CES 9 A LUNATIC ASYLUM4 

,WE W]E ALL !N CONV9C$ ?AT IT WAS NECESS>Y = US TO 
SPEAK1 WRITE1 & PR9T AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE & AS MU* AS 
POSSIBLE1 & ?AT IT WAS ALL WANT$ = ! GOOD ( HUMANITY4 ,& 
?\S&S ( US1 CONTRADICT+ & ABUS+ ONE ANO!R1 ALL PR9T$ 
& WROTE - TEA*+ O!RS4 ,& )\T NOTIC+ ?AT WE KNEW 
NO?+1 & ?AT TO ! SIMPLE/ ( LIFE'S QUE/IONS3 ,:AT IS GOOD 
& :AT IS EVIL8 WE DID NOT KN[ H[ TO REPLY1 WE ALL TALK$ AT 
! SAME TIME1 NOT LI/5+ TO ONE ANO!R1 SOMETIMES SECOND+ 
& PRAIS+ ONE ANO!R 9 ORD] TO BE SECOND$ & PRAIS$ 9 
TURN1 SOMETIMES GETT+ ANGRY ) ONE ANO!R - JU/ AS 9 A 
LUNATIC ASYLUM4 

,?\S&S ( WORKM5 LABOR$ TO ! EXTREME LIMIT ( !IR 
/R5G? DAY & NI<T1 SETT+ ! TYPE & PR9T+ MILLIONS ( 
WORDS :I* ! PO/ C>RI$ ALL OV] ,RUSSIA1 & WE /ILL W5T ON 
TEA*+ & C\LD 9 NO WAY F9D TIME TO TEA* 5\<1 & W]E 
ALWAYS ANGRY ?AT SUFFICI5T ATT5TION WAS NOT PAID US4 

,IT WAS T]RIBLY /RANGE1 BUT IS N[ QUITE COMPREH5SIBLE4 ,\R 
REAL 9N]MO/ CONC]N WAS TO GET AS MU* MONEY & PRAISE AS 
POSSIBLE4 ,TO GA9 ?AT 5D WE C\LD DO NO?+ EXCEPT WRITE BOOKS 
& PAP]S4 ,SO WE DID ?AT4 ,BUT 9 ORD] TO DO SU* USELESS WORK 
& TO FEEL ASSUR$ ?AT WE W]E V]Y IMPORTANT PEOPLE WE REQUIR$ 
A !ORY JU/IFY+ \R ACTIVITY4 ,& SO AMONG US ?IS !ORY WAS 
DEVIS$3 0,ALL ?AT EXI/S IS REASONABLE4 ,ALL ?AT EXI/S 
DEVELOPS4 ,& IT ALL DEVELOPS BY MEANS ( ,CULTURE4 ,& ,CULTURE IS 
MEASUR$ BY ! CIRCULATION ( BOOKS & NEWSPAP]S4 ,& WE >E 
PAID MONEY & >E RESPECT$ BECAUSE WE WRITE BOOKS & NEWSPAP]S1 
& !RE=E WE >E ! MO/ USEFUL & ! BE/ ( M540 ,?IS 
!ORY W\LD HAVE BE5 ALL V]Y WELL IF WE HAD BE5 UNANIM\S1 BUT 
AS EV]Y ?\<T EXPRESS$ BY ONE ( US WAS ALWAYS MET BY A 
DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE ?\<T EXPRESS$ BY ANO!R1 WE \<T TO 
HAVE BE5 DRIV5 TO REFLECTION4 ,BUT WE IGNOR$ ?IS2 PEOPLE PAID 
US MONEY & ?OSE ON \R SIDE PRAIS$ US1 SO EA* ( US CONSID]$ 
HIMSELF JU/IFI$4 

,IT IS N[ CLE> TO ME ?AT ?IS WAS JU/ AS 9 A LUNATIC 
ASYLUM2 BUT !N ,I ONLY DIMLY SUSPECT$ ?IS1 & LIKE ALL 
LUNATICS1 SIMPLY CALL$ ALL M5 LUNATICS EXCEPT MYSELF4 

7,S\RCE3 ,A ,CONFESSION1 BY ,LEV ,NIKOLAYEVI* ,TOL/OY1 ,DI/RIBUT$ BY ! ,TOL/OY ,LIBR>Y ,ONL9E1 ,FIR/ DI/RIBUT$ 9 ,RUSSIA 9 #a#h#h#b1 FIR/ PUBLI%$ 9 #a#h#h#d47 

,FROM 3 ,FLAG4,BLACK5$4NET4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
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