What to Do? Thoughts Evoked by the Census of Moscow

"nevertheless, scientific and artistic activity does still exist. There are the Galileos, Brunos, Homers, Michael Angelos, Beethovens, and all the lesser le

e and art now occupy their privileged position, and on whose basis we are now enabled to decide without grounds, but by a given

erify the reality of their science on the basis of the benefit procured by them to the people, because science, according to their assertions, was supernatural. But now we all possess a very simple and clear d

others are useless, others still are worthless,-good only for the wealthy. They do not fulfil that which, by their own definition, they have undertaken to accomplish; and hence they have as little r

es have not fulfilled, and cannot fulfil, their vocation. They do not

it is its property to be always thus, does mankind so highly prize this activity. If men really were called to the service of others throug

n. Besides this, he will suffer because he is always and eternally in turmoil and agitation: he might decide and say that that which would confer welfare on men, would free them from suffering, would afford them consolation; but he has not said so

t in point of fact, they manufacture destroyers of science and of art), who receives a diploma and a certificate, who would be glad not to think and not to ex

others, are the most burdensome of all man's avocations; a cross, as the Gospels phrase it. And the sole indubitable sign of the presence

, without suffering; but it is impossible, without self-sacrifice, to instruct people in their true happiness, which consists s

vain; not in vain does the sacrif

nd the only anxiety of all men is, how to still better guarantee them,

e servitor of art and science will fulfil his vocation, not for profit but with self-sacrifice; and the sec

ssion of that doctrine. That which is called science and art, among us, is the product of idle minds and feelings, which have for their object to tickle simila

not manifesting itself to the common people, but obscuring for them the meaning of life. Thus it was among the Greeks the sophists, then among

his own hideousness? Why is there nothing left of those sciences, and sophists, and Cabalists, and Talmudists, but words, while we are so exceptionally happy? Surely the signs are identical. There is the same self-satisfaction and blind confidence that we, precisely we, and only we, are on the right path,

difficult one, but why

much less right to our position than the most crafty and depraved priests. Surely we have no justification for our privileged position. The priests had a right to their position: they declared that they taught the people life and salvation. But we have taken their place, and we do not instruct the people in life,-we even admit that such instruction is un

ers-as there are in his own country. And as in his land, so in ours, the right of refusing to labor is conferred by a peculiar consecration, which we call science and art, or, in general terms, culture