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Though five minutes before, Prince Andrew had been able to say a

few words to the soldiers who were carrying him, now with his

eyes fixed straight on Napoleon, he was silent.... So

insignificant at that moment seemed to him all the interests that

engrossed Napoleon, so mean did his hero himself with his paltry

vanity and joy in victory appear, compared to the lofty,

equitable, and kindly sky which he had seen and understood, that

he could not answer him.

Everything seemed so futile and insignificant in comparison with

the stern and solemn train of thought that weakness from loss of

blood, suffering, and the nearness of death aroused in him.

Looking into Napoleon's eyes Prince Andrew thought of the

insignificance of greatness, the unimportance of life which no

one could understand, and the still greater unimportance of

death, the meaning of which no one alive could understand or

explain.