his opinions. He made use of every kind of mental device, except analogy, and passed too boldly, it seemed to Prince Andréy, from one to another. * Now he would take up the position of a practical man and condemn dreamers; * now that of a satirist, and laugh ironically at his opponents; * now grow severely logical, or suddenly rise to the realm of metaphysics. (This last resource was one he very frequently employed.) He would transfer a question to metaphysical heights, pass on to definitions of space, time, and thought, and, having deduced the refutation he needed, would again descend to the level of
In general the trait of Speránski’s mentality which struck Prince Andréy most was his absolute and unshakable belief in the power and authority of reason.
It was evident that the thought could never occur to him which to Prince Andréy seemed so natural, namely, that it is after all impossible to express all one thinks; and that he had never felt the doubt, “Is not all I think and believe nonsense?”
And it was just this peculiarity of Speránski’s mind that particularly attracted Prince Andréy.
During the first period of their acquaintance Bolkónski felt a passionate admiration for him similar to that which he had once felt for Bonaparte. The fact that Speránski was the son of a village priest, and that stupid people might meanly despise him on account of his humble origin (as in fact many did), caused Prince Andréy to cherish his sentiment for him the more, and unconsciously to strengthen it.
On that first evening Bolkónski spent with him, having mentioned the Commission for the Revision of the Code of Laws, Speránski told him sarcastically that the Commission had existed for a