3) They talk, they write, they preach about the knowing of God. What a horrible blasphemy, and horrible admission of the non-understanding of what God is and what we are. We, a particle of the infinite whole, wish to understand not only this whole, but its causes, the origin of the whole. What absurdity and what a recognition of godlessness, or a recognition of God of that which is not God. We can only know that He is, Τὸ ὄν, He exists, and we can only conclude by ourselves, what He is not. 4) Love is God. Love is only the recognition that God is not flesh, not passion, not egoism, not malice. (Doubtful.) 5) Violence rules our world, i.e., malice, and therefore there is always found in society a majority of dependent, unstable members: women, children, stupid ones--brought up on malice, and who side with malice. But the world ought to be ruled by reason, by goodness; then all this majority would be brought up on goodness and would side with it. In order that this should take place it is necessary that reason and goodness manifest themselves, and undismayed, assert their existence; that is very important. 6) The complexity of knowledge is a sign of its falseness. That which is true is simple. 7) How bad it is that people seeking perfection are pained at calumny, at a deserved bad name (or better still, at an undeserved). Calumny, a bad name, gives an opportunity, drives toward an activity, the value of which is only in our conscience. This is so rare, so difficult, and so useful. Involuntary simpleness is the best school for goodness.[372] 8) I have noted down: “_Justice is insufficient. It is ...[373] necessary to oppose._” I cannot remember what this means. 9) Physical labour is important, because it prevents the mind from working idly and aimlessly. 10) Perhaps it is more important to know what one ought not to think about, than to know what one ought to think about. 11) Women are weak and they not only do not want to know their own weakness, but want to boast of their strength. What can be more disgusting? 12) A good man if he does not acknowledge his mistakes and tries to justify himself can become a monster. 13) ... Now _Nov. 26_. _Morning. Y. P._ Did not sleep and thought: 1) Evil is the material for love. Without evil there is none and can be no manifestation of love. God is love, i.e., God manifests Himself to us in victory over evil, i.e., in love. The question of the origin of evil is just as absurd as the question of the origin of the world. It is not “whence comes evil?” that one must know, but “how to conquer it? How to apply love?” 1899 _Jan. 2. Yasnaya Polyana._