“When a man comes to the conclusion that he cannot, and does not desire, to live any longer in the way he has lived till then; when he really sees everything that his life is made up of and decides to work, he must be truthful with himself in order not to fall into a still worse position. Because there is nothing worse than to begin work on oneself and then leave it and find oneself between two stools; it is much better not to begin. And in order not to begin in vain or risk being deceived on one’s own account a man should test his decision many times. And principally he must know how far he is willing to go, what he is willing to sacrifice. There is nothing more easy to say than everything. A man can never sacrifice everything and this can never be required of him. But he must define exactly what he is willing to sacrifice and not bargain about it afterwards. Or it will be the same with him as with the WOLF in the Armenian fairy tale. “Do you know the Armenian fairy tale of the WOLF and the sheep? “Once there lived a WOLF who slaughtered a great many sheep and reduced many people to tears. Fragments: Seventeen

“The priest began the service and the WOLF stood weeping and praying in the church. The service was long. The WOLF had slaughtered many of the priest’s sheep, therefore the priest prayed earnestly that the WOLF would indeed reform. Suddenly the WOLF looked through a window and saw that sheep were being driven home. He began to fidget but the priest went on and on without end. Fragments: Seventeen

“At last the WOLF could contain himself no longer and he shouted: “‘Finish it, priest! Or all the sheep will be driven home and I shall be left without supper!’ Fragments: Seventeen