Ivan Turgenev

“ But even German Germans don't appeal to me. Formerly there were a few Germans here and there; well, Schiller for instance, or Goethe--my brother is particularly fond of them--but nowadays they all seem to have turned into chemists and materialists . . ."
"A decent chemist is twenty times more useful than any poet," interrupted Bazarov.
"Oh, indeed!" remarked Pavel Petrovich, and as if he were falling asleep he slightly raised his eyebrows. "So you don't acknowledge art?"
"The art of making money or of advertising pills!" cried Bazarov, with a contemptuous laugh. ”

“ So you reject all that Very well. So you believe in science only?"
"I have already explained to you that I don't believe in anything; and what is science--science in the abstract? There are sciences, as there are trades and professions, but abstract science just doesn't exist."
"Excellent. Well, and do you maintain the same negative attitude towards other traditions which have become generally accepted for human conduct?"
"What is this, a cross-examination?" asked Bazarov.
Pavel Petrovich turned a little pale . . . ”

“ I'll show you."
"I promised to tell you his story . . ." began Arkady.
"The story of the beetle?"
"Come, come, Evgeny--the story of my uncle. You'll see he's not the kind of man you take him for. He deserves pity rather than ridicule." ”