which I am accustomed； and which； in my moments of self…conceit； I
regard as not useless to others？ I received a most unexpected reply。
The energy of my intellectual activity increased； and increased in
exact proportion with bodily application； while freeing itself from
every thing superfluous。 It appeared that by dedicating to physical
toil eight hours； that half of the day which I had formerly passed
in the oppressive state of a struggle with ennui； eight hours
remained to me； of which only five of intellectual activity；
according to my terms； were necessary to me。 For it appeared； that
if I； a very voluminous writer； who had done nothing for nearly
forty years except write； and who had written three hundred printed
sheets；if I had worked during all those forty years at ordinary
labor with the working…people； then； not reckoning winter evenings
and leisure days； if I had read and studied for five hours every
day； and had written a couple of pages only on holidays （and I have
been in the habit of writing at the rate of one printed sheet a
day）； then I should have written those three hundred sheets in
fourteen years。 The fact seemed startling： yet it is the most
simple arithmetical calculation； which can be made by a seven…year…
old boy； but which I had not been able to make up to this time。
There are twenty…four hours in the day； if we take away eight hours；
sixteen remain。 If any man engaged in intellectual occupations
devote five hours every day to his occupation； he will accomplish a
fearful amount。 And what is to be done with the remaining eleven
hours？
It proved that physical labor not only does not exclude the
possibility of mental activity； but that it improves its quality；
and encourages it。
In answer to the question； whether this physical toil does not
deprive me of many innocent pleasures peculiar to man； such as the
enjoyment of the arts； the acquisition of learning； intercourse with
people； and the delights of life in general； it turned out exactly
the reverse： the more intense the labor； the more nearly it
approached what is considered the coarsest agricultural toil； the
more enjoyment and knowledge did I gain； and the more did I come
into close and loving communion with men； and the more happiness did
I derive from life。
In answer to the question （which I have so often heard from persons
not thoroughly sincere）； as to what result could flow from so
insignificant a drop in the sea of sympathy as my individual
physical labor in the sea of labor ingulfing me； I received also the
most satisfactory and unexpected of answers。 It appeared that all I
had to do was to make physical labor the habitual condition of my
life； and the majority of my false； but precious； habits and my
demands； when physically idle； fell away from me at once of their
own accord； without the slightest exertion on my part。 Not to
mention the habit of turning day into night and vice versa； my
habits connected with my bed； with my clothing； with conventional
cleanliness；which are downright impossible and oppressive with
physical labor；and my demands as to the quality of my food； were
entirely changed。 In place of the dainty； rich； refined；
complicated； highly…spiced food； to which I had formerly inclined；
the most simple viands became needful and most pleasing of all to
me；cabbage…soup； porridge； black bread； and tea v prikusku。 ｛3｝
So that； not to mention the influence upon me of the example of the
simple working…people； who are content with little； with whom I came
in contact in the course of my bodily toil； my very requirements
underwent a change in consequence of my toilsome life； so that my
drop of physical labor in the sea of universal labor became larger
and larger； in proportion as I accustomed myself to； and
appropriated； the habits of the laboring classes； in proportion；
also； to the success of my labor； my demands for labor from others
grew less and less； and my life naturally； without exertion or
privations； approached that simple existence of which I could not
even dream without fulfilling the law of labor。
It proved that my dearest demands from life； namely； my demands for
vanity； and diversion from ennui； arose directly from my idle life。
There was no place for vanity； in connection with physical labor；
and no diversions were needed； since my time was pleasantly
occupied； and； after my fatigue； simple rest at tea over a book； or
in conversation with my fellows； was incomparably more agreeable
than theatres； cards； conceits； or a large company；all which
things are needed in physical idleness； and which cost a great deal。
In answer to the question； Would not this unaccustomed toil ruin
that health which is indispensable in order to render service to the
people possible？ it appeared； in spite of the positive assertions of
noted physicians； that physical exertion； especially at my age；
might have the most injurious consequences （but that Swedish
gymnastics； the massage treatment； and so on； and other expedients
intended to take the place of the natural conditions of man's life；
were better）； that the more intense the toil； the stronger； more
alert； more cheerful； and more kindly did I feel。 Thus it
undoubtedly appeared； that； just as all those cunning devices of the
human mind； newspapers； theatres； concerts； visits； balls； cards；
journals； romances； are nothing else than expedients for maintaining
the spiritual life of man outside his natural conditions of labor
for others；just so all the hygienic and medical devices of the
human mind for the preparation of food； drink； lodging； ventilation；
heating； clothing； medicine； water； massage； gymnastics； electric；
and other means of healing；all these clever devices are merely an
expedient to sustain the bodily life of man removed from its natural
conditions of labor。 It turned out that all these devices of the
human mind for the agreeable arrangement of the physical existence
of idle persons are precisely analogous to those artful contrivances
which people might invent for the production in vessels hermetically
sealed； by means of mechanical arrangements； of evaporation； and
plants； of the air best fitted for breathing； when all that is
needed is to open the window。 All the inventions of medicine and
hygiene for persons of our sphere are much the same as though a
mechanic should hit upon the idea of heating a steam…boiler which
was not working； and should shut all the valves so that the boiler
should not burst。 Only one thing is needed； instead of all these
extremely complicated devices for pleasure； for comfort； and for
medical and hygienic preparations； intended to save people from
their spiritual and bodily ailments； which swallow up so much
labor；to fulfil the law of life； to do that which is proper not
only to man； but to the animal； to fire off the charge of energy
taken win in the shape of food； by muscular exertion； to speak in
plain language； to earn one's bread。 Those who do not work should
not eat； or they should earn as much as they have eaten。
And when I clearly comprehended all this； it struck me as
ridiculous。 Through a whole series of doubts and searchings； I had
arrived； by a long course of thought； at this remarkable truth： if
a man has eyes； it is that he may see with them； if he has ears；
that he may hear； and feet； that he may walk； and hands and back；
that he may labor； and that if a man will not employ those members
for that purpose for which they are intended； it will be the worse
for him。
I came to this conclusion； that； with us privileged people； the same
thing has happened which happened with the horses of a friend of
mine。 His steward； who was not a lover of horses； nor well versed
in them； on receiving his master's orders to place the best horses
in the stable； selected them from the stud； placed them in stalls；
and fed and watered them； but fearing for the valuable steeds； he
could not bring himself to trust them to any one； and he neither
rode nor drove them； nor did he even take them out。 The horses
stood there until they were good for nothing。 The same thing has
happened with us； but with this difference： that it was impossible
to deceive the horses in any way； and they were kept in bonds to
prevent their getting out； but we are kept in an unnatural position
that is equally injurious to us； by deceits which have entangled us；
and which hold us like chains。
We have arranged for ourselves a life that is repugnant both to the
moral and the physical nature of man； and all the powers of our
intelligence we concentrate upon assuring man that this is the most
natural life possible。 Every thing which we call culture；our
sciences； art； and the perfection of the pleasant thing's of life；
all these are attempts to deceive the moral requirements of man；
every thing that is called hygiene and medicine； is an attempt to
deceive the natural physical demands of human nature。 But these
deceits have their bounds； and we advance to them。 〃If such be the
real human life； then it is better not to live at all；〃 says the
reigning and extremely fashionable philosophy of Schopenhauer and
Hartmann。 If such is life； 'tis better for the coming generation
not to live；〃 say corrupt medical science and its newly devised
means to that end。
In the Bible； it is laid down as the law of man： 〃In the sweat of
thy face shalt thou eat bread； and in sorrow thou shalt bring forth
children；〃 but 〃nous avons change tout ca；〃 as Moliere's character
says； when expressing himself with regard to medicine； and asserting
that the liver was on the left side。 We have changed all that。 Men
need not work in order to eat； and women need not bear children。
A ragged peasant roams the Krapivensky district。 During the war he
was an agent for the purchase of grain； under an official of the
commissary department。 On being brought in contact with the
official； and seeing his luxurious life； the peasant lost his mind；
and thought that he might get along without work； like gentlemen；
and receive proper support from the Emperor。 This peasant now calls
himself 〃the Most Serene Warrior； Prince Blokhin； purveyor of war
supplies of all d