But the church, like a tender, loving mother holds aloof from active punishment herself, as the sinner is too severely punished already by the civil law, and there must be at least someone to have pity on him. The church holds aloof, above all, because its judgment alone contains the truth...

“I was seeking within myself the human being I had so long lost sight of, hoping…”

“Nouă ne e penibil pînă şi să fim oameni, oameni cu trup şi sînge adevărat, prop…”

“I wanted to find out then and quickly whether I was a louse like everybody else…”

“At some thoughts one stands perplexed - especially at the sight of men's sin - …”