Notes From The Underground, Fyodor Dostoyevsky [best non fiction books of all time .TXT] 📗

irts of the town. My servant is an old country-woman, ill-natured from stupidity, and, moreover, there is always a nastysmell about her. I am told that the Petersburg climate is bad for me, andthat with my small means it is very expensive to live in Petersburg. Iknow all that better than all these sage and experienced counsellors andmonitors. ... But I am remaining in Petersburg; I am not going awayfrom Petersburg! I am not going away because ... ech! Why, it isabsolutely no matter whether I am going away or not going away.

But what can a decent man speak of with most pleasure?

Answer: Of himself.

Well, so I will talk about myself.

II

I want now to tell you, gentlemen, whether you care to hear it or not, whyI could not even become an insect. I tell you solemnly, that I have manytimes tried to become an insect. But I was not equal even to that. I swear,gentlemen, that to be too conscious is an illness--a real thorough-goingillness. For man's everyday needs, it would ha