“And love of one’s neighbor, and self-sacrifice?” began Pierre. “No, I can’t agree with you! To live only so as not to do evil and not to have to repent is not enough. I lived like that, I lived for myself and ruined my life. And only now when I am living, or at least trying” (Pierre’s modesty made him correct himself) “to live for others, only now have I understood all the happiness of life. No, I shall not agree with you, and you do not really believe what you are saying.” Prince Andréy looked silently at Pierre with an ironic smile.

“When you see my sister, Princess Márya, you’ll get on with her,” he said. “Perhaps you are right for yourself,” he added after a short pause, “but everyone lives in his own way. You lived for yourself and say you nearly ruined your life and only found happiness when you began living for others. I experienced just the reverse. I lived for glory.⁠—And after all what is glory? The same love of others, a desire to do something for them, a desire for their approval.⁠—So I lived for others, and not almost, but quite, ruined my life. And I have become calmer since I began to live only for myself.”