Fyodor Dostoevsky. Diary of a writer (№ 423792)

Well, who is closest to the people? Clergy? But our clergy do not answer the questions of the people for a long time. In addition to other priests still burning with the fire of jealousy for Christ, often imperceptible, unknown to anyone, precisely because they are not looking for anything for themselves, but live only for the flock - except for these and, alas, very, it seems, a few, the rest, if answers are very much required of them, - will answer the questions, perhaps, with a denunciation of them. Others so alienate the flock from themselves with disproportionate extortion that no one will come to them to ask.