Book: Leviathan

The fate always treated me cruelly, as if caressed at the dawn of life, only then to then a painful sting.

Perhaps my life will not change. I'll be the same as before, and vain, and foolish, and subject to passions. But deep in my soul now will always be valid knowledge. It will save me and support me in difficult times. I'm not a shallow puddle that can spill across the ground a strong gust of wind. I am the ocean, and the storm that swept all-destroying tsunami across my surface will not affect my innermost depths.

Pregnancy is such a mystery that teaches to respect human existence.

Christian culture is built on guilt. To sin is bad, because then you will be tormented by remorse. To avoid the guilt of normal European tries to behave morally. Similarly, the Japanese committed not to violate ethical standards, but for a different reason. In their society, the role of moral inhibition, plays a shame. Worst of all for the Japanese to be in a shameful position, be condemned, or worse, ridicule of the society. So the Japanese are very afraid to commit any obscenity. I assure you that as a public civilize shame is more effective than conscience.

And even the weakness of the cute creatures
In the eyes of love worthy of adoration.

I am in everything and everything is in me.

Human life is a single whole piece, and judge which can be only when I finished the last page. The piece can be as long as a tetralogy, or as short as a Novella. But who will undertake to say that thick and vulgar novel is certainly more valuable than a short, beautiful poem?

Still, the French, for all their vaunted chivalry are not gentlemen. Of course, they can unleash the fog, turn the head, have some spectacular trick, send it in a hotel room a hundred red roses, but you can't trust them. English gentleman, may be deflating, but knows what the duty and decency. And the Frenchman will be rubbed in trust and will betray.

Imagine what a Gulf separates anthropoid Mr. Fandorin from some kossack or bearded muzhik, which make this Tatar-Byzantine Empire 90% of the population. On the other hand, such distance shall extremely to elevate and ennoble a man of education and thinking.

We Fandorin-San compared the advantages of Japanese and English exercises. I could afford to be lenient, as the superiority of the East to the West in this sphere is obvious. The fact is that exercise is a sport, a game, and we have a Path to spiritual self-improvement. It is to the spiritual, because physical perfection is irrelevant and drags behind itself, like a train behind the locomotive.

Men are more similar to canines. As you know, beings they are primitive and are divided into three main types: jackals, sheepdogs and dogs. Each type has its own approach. The Jackal is a scavenger - he prefers easy prey. Men of this type peck on availability. [...] The second category of men loves women weak and defenseless. Such men do not feed bread - give only to save you and protect you. A good subspecies, very useful and easy to use. Here the main thing not to overdo it with the pain - ailing women men are afraid. [...] The third type of men is the most uncomplicated and completely devoid of imagination. Acts on them only something grossly sensual, like accidentally shows an ankle. On the other hand, many of the great people and even cultural luminaries belong to this category.

... When you found yourself in someone else's company, sit, listen, smile and from time to time, nod your head - will be called an educated man and in any case will not say anything stupid.

And why only the rich bums go to travel? The same everywhere: some people get fat from overeating, others swollen from hunger.

Do not go from the truth, no matter how terrible it may be, don't hide behind the illusion! And most importantly, don't beat yourself up... It's a test of a severe examination, which gave you a destiny. I don't know why would anyone need to subject a person to such a cruel test, but I know one thing: testing is needed to survive. Otherwise, the end, the disintegration of the soul.