"Well now, well, what's your own theory?" Katavasov said to Levin with a smile, distinctly challenging him to a discussion.

" Why have not private persons the right to do so?" "Oh, my theory's this: war is on one side such a beastly, cruel, and awful thing, that no one man, not to speak of a Christian, can individually take upon himself the responsibility of beginning wars; that can only be done by a government, which is called upon to do this, and is driven inevitably into war.

On the other hand, both political science and common sense teach us that in matters of state, and especially in the matter of war, private citizens must forego their personal individual will.

" Sergey Ivanovitch and Katavasov had their replies ready, and both began speaking at the same time.