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upon myself as a regular man； and had begun to regard myself as a
man exactly like every one else；only then did my path become clear
before me。 Before that time I had not been able to answer the
question： 〃What is to be done？〃 because I had stated the question
itself wrongly。
As long as I did not repent； I put the question thus： 〃What sphere
of activity should I choose； I； the man who has received the
education and the talents which have fallen to my shame？ How； in
this fashion； make recompense with that education and those talents；
for what I have taken； and for what I still take； from the people？〃
This question was wrong； because it contained a false
representation； to the effect that I was not a man just like them；
but a peculiar man called to serve the people with those talents and
with that education which I had won by the efforts of forty years。
I propounded the query to myself； but； in reality； I had answered it
in advance； in that I had in advance defined the sort of activity
which was agreeable to me； and by which I was called upon to serve
the people。 I had； in fact； asked myself： 〃In what manner could I；
so very fine a writer； who had acquired so much learning and
talents； make use of them for the benefit of the people？〃
But the question should have been put as it would have stood for a
learned rabbi who had gone through the course of the Talmud； and had
learned by heart the number of letters in all the holy books； and
all the fine points of his art。 The question for me； as for the
rabbi； should stand thus： 〃What am I； who have spent； owing to the
misfortune of my surroundings； the year's best fitted for study in
the acquisition of grammar； geography； judicial science； poetry；
novels and romances； the French language； pianoforte playing；
philosophical theories； and military exercises； instead of inuring
myself to labor； what am I； who have passed the best years of my
life in idle occupations which are corrupting to the soul；what am
I to do in defiance of these unfortunate conditions of the past； in
order that I may requite those people who during the whole time have
fed and clothed； yes； and who even now continue to feed and clothe
me？〃 Had the question then stood as it stands before me now； after
I have repented；〃What am I； so corrupt a man； to do？〃 the answer
would have been easy： 〃To strive； first of all； to support myself
honestly； that is； to learn not to live upon others； and while I am
learning； and when I have learned this； to render aid on all
possible occasions to the people； with my hands； and my feet； and my
brain； and my heart； and with every thing to which the people should
present a claim。〃
And therefore I say； that for the man of our circle； in addition to
not lying to himself or to others； repentance is also necessary； and
that he should scrape from himself that pride which has sprung up in
us； in our culture； in our refinements； in our talents； and that he
should confess that he is not a benefactor of the people and a
distinguished man； who does not refuse to share with the people his
useful acquirements； but that he should confess himself to be a
thoroughly guilty； corrupt； and good…for…nothing man； who desires to
reform himself and not to behave benevolently towards the people；
but simply to cease wounding and insulting them。
I often hear the questions of good young men who sympathize with the
renunciatory part of my writings； and who ask； 〃Well； and what then
shall I do？ What am I to do； now that I have finished my course in
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。
And this confession of a man's obligation constitutes the gist of
the third answer to the question； 〃What is to be done？〃
I tried not to lie to myself： I tried to cast out from myself the
remains of my false conceptions of the importance of my education
and talents； and to repent； but on the way to a decision of the
question； 〃What to do？〃 a fresh difficulty arose。 There are so many
different occupations； that an indication was necessary as to the
precise one which was to be adopted。 And the answer to this
question was furnished me by sincere repentance for the evil in
which I had lived。
〃What to do？ Precisely what to do？〃 all ask； and that is what I
also asked so long as； under the influence of my exalted idea of any
own importance； I did not perceive that my first and unquestionable
duty was to feed myself； to clothe myself； to furnish my own fuel；
to do my own building； and； by so doing； to serve others； because；
ever since the would has existed； the first and indubitable duty of
every man has consisted and does consist in this。
In fact； no matter what a man may have assumed to be his vocation；
whether it be to govern people； to defend his fellow…countrymen； to
divine service； to instruct others； to invent means to heighten the
pleasures of life； to discover the laws of the world； to incorporate
eternal truths in artistic representations；the duty of a
reasonable man is to take part in the struggle with nature； for the
sustenance of his own life and of that of others。 This obligation
is the first of all； because what people need most of all is their
life； and therefore； in order to defend and instruct the people； and
render their lives more agreeable； it is requisite to preserve that
life itself； whil