“‘Be quiet. I have no idea how you’ve managed to deceive yourself to such an extent. I’m weak, good-for-nothing, I’m racked with indecision, I lack what everyone else has — the ability to die inside and come back to life. I don’t like life or people, and I’m afraid of them like most people are, probably even more than most people. I’m not free, I haven’t really enjoyed anything for a long time, and I’m not honest because I didn’t tell you anything about myself for so long, and now, when I do, it’s so difficult.’”

—Evgenii Petrovich