We

by Yevgeny Zamyatin

Is it not clear to you that what you are planning is a revolution? Absurd, because a revolution is impossible! Because our—I speak for myself and for you—our revolution was the last one. No other revolutions may occur. Everybody knows that.” A mocking, sharp triangle of brows. “My dear, you are a mathematician, are you not? More than that, a philosopher-mathematician? Well, then, name the last number.” “What is … I … I cannot understand, which last?” “The last one, the highest, the largest.” “But I-330, that’s absurd! Since the number of numbers is infinite, how can there be a last one?” “And why then do you think there is a last revolution … their number is infinite.… The ‘last one’ is a child’s story. Children are afraid of the infinite, and it is necessary that children should not be frightened, so that they may sleep through the night.”