Notes from the Underground

6. an intelligent man cannot become anything seriously, and it is only the fool who becomes anything.

9. I swear, gentleman, that to be too conscious is an illness—a real thorough-going illness.

9. (There are intentional and unintentional towns.)

9. Though, after all, everyone does do that; people do pride themselves on their diseases, and I do, may be, more than anyone.

9. But the chief point was that all this was, as it were, not accidental in me, but as though it were bound to be so.

10. that you could never become a different man; that even if time and faith were still left you to change into something different you would most likely not wish to change; or if you did wish to, even then you would do nothing; because perhaps in reality there was nothing for you to change into.

10. one was not only unable to change but could do absolutely nothing.

10. that one is not to blame in being a scoundrel

10. but in despair there are the most intense enjoyments, especially when one is very acutely conscious of the hopelessness of one’s position.

12. I should certainly never have made up my mind to do anything, even if I had been able to.

13. He is stupid. I am not disputing that, but perhaps the normal man should be stupid, how do you know? Perhaps it is very beautiful, in fact.

Stopped notes on pg 13 but all highlighted