Summary

Portrait of Fyodor Dostoevsky Fyodor Dostoevsky The Brothers Karamazov — Part III, Book IX, Chapter 7 (1880)

So in that case I should be a scoundrel, but not a thief, you may say what you like, not a thief!"
"I admit that there is a certain distinction," said the prosecutor, with a cold smile. "But it's strange that you see such a vital difference."
"Yes, I see a vital difference. Every man may be a scoundrel, and perhaps every man is a scoundrel, but not everyone can be a thief; it takes an arch-scoundrel to be that. Oh, of course, I don't know how to make these fine distinctions... but a thief is lower than a scoundrel, that's my conviction.
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of Fyodor Dostoevsky Fyodor Dostoevsky The Brothers Karamazov — Part III, Book IX, Chapter 7 (1880)

Oh, gentlemen, I tell you again, with a bleeding heart, I have learnt a great deal this night. I have learnt that it's not only impossible to live a scoundrel, but impossible to die a scoundrel.... No, gentlemen, one must die honest..."
Mitya was pale. His face had a haggard and exhausted look, in spite of his being intensely excited.
"I am beginning to understand you, Dmitri Fyodorovitch," the prosecutor said slowly, a soft and almost compassionate tone. "But all this, if you'll excuse my saying so, is a matter of nerves, in my opinion... your overwrought nerves, that's what it is.
Source: Wikisource

Portrait of Fyodor Dostoevsky Fyodor Dostoevsky The Brothers Karamazov — Part III, Book IX, Chapter 7 (1880)

You must know that I already had that plan myself, that plan you spoke of, just now, prosecutor! Yes, gentlemen, I, too, have had that thought in my mind all this current month, so that I was on the point of deciding to go to Katya- I was mean enough for that. But to go to her, to tell her of my treachery, and for that very treachery, to carry it out, for the expenses of that treachery, to beg for money from her, Katya (to beg, do you hear, to beg) , and go straight from her to run away with the other, the rival, who hated and insulted her- to think of it! You must be mad, prosecutor!
Source: Wikisource

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