Doctor Zhivago

by Boris Pasternak

They passed the hothouses, the gardener's cottage, and the ruins of some stone structure. They were talking about new talent in science and literature. "Yes, there are gifted men," said Nikolai Nikolaievich; "but the fashion nowadays is all for groups and societies of every sort. Gregariousness is always the refuge of mediocrities, whether they swear by Soloviëv or Kant or Marx. Only individuals seek the truth, and they shun those whose sole concern is not the truth. How many things in the world deserve our loyalty? Very few indeed. I think one should be loyal to immortality, which is another word for life, a stronger word for it. One must be true to immortality-true to Christ! Ah, you're turning up your nose, my poor man. As usual, you haven't understood a thing." "Hmm," said Ivan Ivanovich.