“Yes, that is Herder’s theory,” said Prince Andréy, “but it is not that which can convince me, dear friend⁠—life and death are what convince. What convinces is when one sees a being dear to one, bound up with one’s own life, before whom one was to blame and had hoped to make it right” (Prince Andréy’s voice trembled and he turned away), “and suddenly that being is seized with pain, suffers, and ceases to exist.⁠ ⁠… Why? It cannot be that there is no answer. And I believe there is.⁠ ⁠… That’s what convinces, that is what has convinced me,” said Prince Andréy.

“Yes, yes, of course,” said Pierre, “isn’t that what I’m saying?”

“No. All I say is that it is not argument that convinces me of the necessity of a future life, but this: when you go hand in hand with someone and all at once that person vanishes there, into nowhere , and you yourself are left facing that abyss, and look in. And I have looked in.⁠ ⁠…”