But learn from a book how to live!--that is something absurd.

It was written by man, not by God, and what laws and examples can man establish for himself ?" "And how about the Gospels?
Were they not written by men ?" "Those were apostles.

Now there are none." "Good, your refutation is sound! It is true, dear, there are no apostles.

Only the Judases remained, and miserable ones at that." Foma felt very well, for he saw that Yozhov was attentively listening to his words and seemed to be weighing each and every word he uttered.
Meeting such bearing toward him for the first time in his life, Foma unburdened himself boldly and freely before his friend, caring nothing for the choice of words, and feeling that he would be understood because Yozhov wanted to understand him.
"You are a curious fellow!" said Yozhov, about two days after their meeting.

"And though you speak with difficulty, one feels that there is a great deal in you--great daring of heart! If you only knew a little about the order of life! Then you would speak loud enough, I think.
Yes!" "But you cannot wash yourself clean with words, nor can you then free yourself," remarked Foma, with a sigh.