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"I think you are partly right. Our difference of opinion amounts

to this, that you make the mainspring self-interest, while I

suppose that interest in the common weal is bound to exist in

every man of a certain degree of advancement. Possibly you are

right too, that action founded on material interest would be more

desirable. You are altogether, as the French say, too

primesautiere a nature; you must have intense, energetic action,

or nothing."

Levin listened to his brother and did not understand a single

word, and did not want to understand. He was only afraid his

brother might ask him some question which would make it evident

he had not heard.

"So that's what I think it is, my dear boy," said Sergey

Ivanovitch, touching him on the shoulder.