Paklin threw up his arms in despair.

"That's just where we are mistaken, Alexai Dmitritch! We never
know anyone. We want to do things, to turn the whole world
upside down, and are living outside this very world, amidst two
or three friends, jostling each other in our narrow little
circle!

"Excuse me," Nejdanov put in. "I don't think that is quite true.
We certainly do not go amongst the enemy, but are constantly
mixing with our own kind, and with the masses."

"Just a minute! " Paklin interrupted, in his turn. "Talking of
enemies reminds me of Goethe's lines--

Wer den Dichter will versteh'n
Muss im Dichter's lands geh'n.

and I say--

Wer den Feinde will versteh'n
Muss im Feinde's lands geh'n.

To turn one's back on one's enemies, not to try and understand
their manner of life, is utterly stupid! Yes, utterly stu-pid! If
I want to shoot a wolf in the forest, I must first find out his
haunts. You talked of coming in contact with the people just now.
My dear boy! In 1862 the Poles formed their revolutionary bands
in the forest; we are just about to enter that same forest, I