Notes from the Underground

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

swear, gentlemen, that to be too conscious is an illness--a real thorough-going illness.

But, gentlemen, whoever can pride himself on his diseases and even swagger over them? Though, after all, everyone does do that; people do pride themselves on their diseases,

(I have always considered myself cleverer than any of the people surrounding me, and sometimes, would you believe it, have been positively ashamed of it.