17) People are occupied with three things: 1) to feed themselves, i.e., to continue their existence, 2) to multiply--to continue the existence of the specie, and 3) to fulfil that for which they had been sent in the world: to establish the kingdom of God. For this there is one means--to perfect oneself. Almost all people are occupied with the first two matters, forgetting the last, which at bottom is the only real work. 18) The decline of the moral consciousness of humanity lies in the greatest part of the people being placed in such a situation that all interest in life for them is only to feed and to multiply. It is just the same as if the master kept his cattle, caring only that they be fed, or better, that they do not die from hunger and that they multiply, and never received any income from them: no wool, or milk, or work from them--from these cattle. The Master who sent us in this world requires from us, besides existence and its continuation, also the labour He needs. 19) For _Resurrection_. It was impossible to think and remember one’s sin and be self-satisfied. But he had to be self-satisfied in order to live, and therefore he did not think and forgot. 20) It is impossible to demand from woman that she valuate the feeling of her exclusive love, on the basis of moral feeling. She cannot do it, because she hasn’t got a real moral feeling, i.e., one that stands higher than everything. To-day I plan to go home. _Aug. 4. Y. P. If I live._ Why does the 4th of August come to my mind as if it were important? Nothing important has happened. _To-day, August 24. Y. P._ During this time I received no letters from Chertkov and am very perplexed.[356] I think that during this time the Dukhobors were here. Letters from Khilkov, from Ivan Michailovich. I answered them all. To-day Sullerzhitsky arrived.[357] I am working all the time on _Resurrection_ and am pleased, even very much so. I am afraid of shocks. ... And I feel well. A full house of people: Mashenka,[358] Stakhovich, Vera Kuzminsky,[359] Vera Tolstoi.[360] I am copying: 1) People were sent into the world to do the work of God, but they quarrelled, fought and established things in such a way that for some, there is no time to do the work, because they have to feed themselves, and for others there is no time, because they have to guard that which they took away. What a waste of strength! It is just as if workers had been sent to work and given food; some have taken the food away and they have to guard it and the others have to get food, and the work stands still. 2) People live in the world not fulfilling their mission--it is the same way as if factory workers were only busied with how to lodge themselves, feed themselves and amuse themselves. 3) One of the most important tasks of humanity consists in the bringing up of a chaste woman.