But the children begin to work for their own stomachs, and drag their lives along as a thief drags a worthless stolen mop.

Their souls are never stirred with joy, never quickened with a thought that melts the heart.
Some live like mendicants--always begging; some like thieves--always snatching out of the hands of others.

They've made thieves' laws, placed men with sticks over the people, and said to them: 'Guard our laws; they are very convenient laws; they permit us to suck the blood out of the people!' They try to squeeze the people from the outside, but the people resist, and so they drive the rules inside so as to crush the reason, too." Leaning his elbows on the table and looking into the mother's face with pensive eyes, he continued in an even, flowing voice: "Only those are men who strike the chains from off man's body and from off his reason.

And now you, too, are going into this work according to the best of your ability." "I?
Now, now! How can I ?" "Why not?
It's just like rain.

Every drop goes to nourish the seed! And when you are able to read, then--" He stopped and began to laugh; then rose and paced up and down the room.
"Yes, you must learn to read! And when Pavel gets back, won't you surprise him, eh ?" "Oh, Andriusha! For a young man everything is simple and easy! But when you have lived to my age, you have lots of trouble, little strength, and no mind at all left." In the evening the Little Russian went out.