"You speak like a town-crier," and after a short pause he added, "That is a great compliment from me." "We express the same meaning in different forms," answered Wilhelm.
"How can you add to the national wealth?
By making yourself a rich man.
And I try to be useful to the community by educating myself in the greatest possible morality, and the highest ideal of a citizen.

No one can work outside of himself when every individual strives to be good and true, then the whole people will be good and noble." "Now you are disputing as to your life's duty," cried Baninskoi, whose eyes glowed, and whole face was red with the alcohol he had imbibed.
"Prove first that it is a duty.

I deny without exception every duty to others.

Why should I trouble myself about the world?
What are my fellow-creatures to me?
Dinner is trumps, and long live wine!" and he drank a glassful.
"It is an instinct born with us," said Wilhelm, without any vexation, "to care for one's fellow-creatures, and to feel a duty in sympathy for others." "But suppose I have not got this instinct ?" answered Barinskoi.
"Then you are an unhealthy exception." "Prove it." "The best proof is the continuance of mankind.

If the instinct of sympathy with others were to fail among men, humanity would long ago have ceased to exist." Barinskoi laughed.
"That is a convenient arrangement.