Leo Tolstoy

“ The Gospel is one thing; what I dislike is another thing. It would be worse if I pretended to like the Nihilists, especially the female Nihilists, when as a matter of fact I hate them.”
“Why do you hate them?”
“Why do they meddle in other people’s affairs? It is not a woman’s business.”
“But you have nothing against Mariette occupying herself with business,” said Nekhludoff.
“Mariette? Mariette is Mariette, but who is she? A conceited ignoramus who wants to teach everybody.”
“They do not wish to teach; they only wish to help the people.” ”

“ I have just been in the country. Is it proper that peasants should overwork themselves without getting enough to eat, while we are living in such wasteful luxury?”
“What do you wish me to do? You would like to see me work and not eat anything?”
“No, I do not wish you not to eat,” smiling involuntarily, answered Nekhludoff. “I only wish that we should all work, and all have enough to eat.”
The aunt again raised her eyebrows and gazed at him with curiosity. ”

“ He knows all sorts of people. I will tell him. You explain it to him, for he never understands me. No matter what I may say, he always says that he cannot understand me. C’est un parti pris. Everybody understands, only he does not understand. ”