Fyodor Dostoevsky. Diary of a writer (№ 423408)

Oh, of course, man has always and at all times idolized materialism and was inclined to see and understand freedom only in providing himself with money accumulated with all his might and stored by all means. But never have these aspirations been raised so frankly and so instructively to the highest principle as in our nineteenth century. “Everyone for himself and only for himself and all communication between people is unique for himself” - this is the moral principle of most of today's people, and not even bad people, but, on the contrary, working people who do not kill, do not steal. And ruthlessness towards the lower masses, and the fall of brotherhood, and the exploitation of the rich by the poor - oh, of course, all this was both before and always, but - but it was not raised to the level of the highest truth and science, but it was condemned by Christianity, and now, on the contrary , is elevated to virtue.