“If the wickedness of people arouses indignation and insurmountable grief in you, to the point that you desire to revenge yourself upon the wicked, fear that feeling most of all; go at once and seek torments for yourself, as if you yourself were guilty of their wickedness. Take these torments upon yourself and suffer them, and your heart will be eased, and you will understand that you, too, are guilty, for you might have shone to the wicked, even like the only sinless One, but you did not. If you had shone, your light would have lighted the way for others, and the one who did wickedness would perhaps not have done so in your light. And even if you do shine, but see that people are not saved even with your light, remain steadfast, and do not doubt the power of the heavenly light; believe that if they are not saved now, they will be saved later. And if they are not saved, their sons will be saved, for your light will not die, even when you are dead. The righteous man departs, but his light remains. People are always saved after the death of him who saved them. The generation of men does not welcome its prophets and kills them, but men love their martyrs and venerate those they have tortured to death. Your work is for the whole, your deed is for the future. Never seek a reward, for great is your reward on earth without that: your spiritual joy, which only the righteous obtain. Nor should you fear the noble and powerful, but be wise and ever gracious. Know measure, know the time, learn these things. When you are alone, pray. Love to throw yourself down on the earth and kiss it. Kiss the earth and love it, tirelessly, insatiable, love all men, love all things, seek this rapture and ecstasy. Water the earth with the tears of your joy, and love those tears. Do not be ashamed of this ecstasy, treasure it, for it is a gift from God, a great gift, and it is not given to many, but to those who are chosen.”
― The Brothers Karamazov
― The Brothers Karamazov
“He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.”
― Anna Karenina
― Anna Karenina
“You will burn and you will burn out; you will be healed and come back again.”
― The Brothers Karamazov
― The Brothers Karamazov
LITERATURE OF IRAN & THE DIASPORA
— 263 members
— last activity Feb 10, 2025 09:20AM
from the classical literature of persia to modern iranian fiction and poetry all the way to present-day iranian-american fiction, poetry, and memoir
Great Persia
— 255 members
— last activity Jul 22, 2024 08:25AM
in group zir shakhe group great_persia dar yahoo ast , va goroohi baraye tamame kesani ke ashegh iran e azizemoon hastand!! اگر ایران بجز ویران سرا ن ...more
Pardees’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Pardees’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Pardees
Lists liked by Pardees

























