the university, or in some other institution, in order that I may be
of use?" Young men ask this, and in the depths of their soul it is
already decided that the education which they have received
constitutes their privilege and that they desire to serve the people
precisely by means of thus superiority. And hence, one thing which
they will in no wise do, is to bear themselves honestly and
critically towards that which they call their culture, and ask
themselves, are those qualities which they call their culture good
or bad? If they will do this, they will infallibly be led to see
the necessity of renouncing their culture, and the necessity of
beginning to learn all over again; and this is the one indispensable
thing. They can in no wise solve the problem, "What to do?" because
this question does not stand before them as it should stand. The
question must stand thus: "In what manner am I, a helpless, useless
man, who, owing to the misfortune of my conditions, have wasted my
best years of study in conning the scientific Talmud which corrupts
soul and body, to correct this mistake, and learn to serve the
people?" But it presents itself to them thus: "How am I, a man who
has acquired so much very fine learning, to turn this very fine
learning to the use of the people?" And such a man will never
answer the question, "What is to be done?" until he repents. And
repentance is not terrible, just as truth is not terrible, and it is
equally joyful and fruitful. It is only necessary to accept the
truth wholly, and to repent wholly, in order to understand that no
one possesses any rights, privileges, or peculiarities in the matter
of this life of ours, but that there are no ends or bounds to
obligation, and that a man's first and most indubitable duty is to
take part in the struggle with nature for his own life and for the
lives of others.