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May 11, 2007
the more I love mankind in general, the less I love people in particular
‘I love mankind,’ he said, ‘but I am amazed at myself: the more I love mankind in general, the less I love people in particular, that is individually, as separate persons. 'In my dreams,’ he said, ‘I often went so far as to think passionately of serving mankind, and, it may be, would really have gone to the cross for people if it were somehow suddenly necessary, and yet I am incapable of living in the same room with anyone even for two days, this I know from experience. As soon as someone is there, close to me, his personality oppresses my self-esteem and restricts my freedom. In twenty-four hours I can begin to hate even the best of men: one because he takes too long eating his dinner, another because he has a cold and keeps blowing his nose. I become the enemy of people the moment they touch me,’ he said. On the other hand, it has always happened that the more I hate people individually, the more ardent becomes my love for humanity as a whole.’
Dostoevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Posted by amin at May 11, 2007 6:26 PM