No, I'd better not speak of it. It's a secret for me…
““No, I'd better not speak of it. It's a secret for me alone, of vital importance for me, and not to be put into words. This new feeling has not changed me, has not made me happy and enlightened all of a sudden as I dreamed. Just like the feeling for my child, there was no surprise in this either. Faith—or not faith—I don't know what it is—but this feeling has come just as imperceptibly through suffering, and has taken firm root in my soul. I shall go on in the same way, losing my temper with Ivan the coachman, falling into angry discussions, expressing my opinions tactlessly. There will be still the same wall between the holy of holies of my soul and other people, even my wife. I shall still go on scolding her for my own terror, and being remorseful for it. I shall still be as unable to understand with my reason why I pray, and I shall still go on praying. But my life now—my whole life apart from anything that can happen to me—every minute of it—is no more meaningless as it was before, but has the positive meaning of goodness, which I have the power to put into it.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator describes a secret, profound feeling that, despite suffering, gives life meaning and a drive toward goodness, even amid personal flaws.
In simple terms: A hidden inner feeling gives purpose despite hardship.
Key Takeaway
Embrace inner purpose despite suffering.
Themes
spirituality
purpose
humanity
Mood
introspective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- spiritual seeking
- relationship challenges
Key Concepts
existential meaning
inner transformation
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner source gives your life meaning?
- How do you act on that purpose?
A Different Perspective
The feeling may be vague, making practical application unclear.