Varlam Shalamov. Dry rations (№ 311189)

Our knowledge of people does not give us anything useful in life. What's the point in what I see, feel, figure, foresee the actions of another person? After all, his behavior towards him, I can't change, I won't bring the same prisoner, like myself, whatever he was doing. I will not seek the post of foreman, giving the opportunity to stay alive, for the worst in the camp is the imposition of your (or someone else's) will, to another person, the prisoner, like me. I will not look for useful contacts, bribes. And what good is that I know that Ivanov is a scoundrel, but Petrov is a spy, and Zaslavsky a false witness?