Anna Karenina

Levin remembered a scene with Dolly and her children. The children, left to themselves, began cooking raspberries over candles and squirting milk with a syringe. Their mother caught them and began reminding them that this trouble was all for their sake, that if they smashed cups they'd have nothing to drink from, if they wasted milk they'd die of hunger. Levin was struck by 'the passive, weary incredulity with which the children heard what their mother said.' They were simply annoyed their play was interrupted, 'and did not believe a word of what their mother was saying.' This becomes Levin's metaphor for understanding faith versus reason. Just as children can't comprehend the larger purpose of adult care, humans can't fully comprehend God's purpose through reason alone. 'However I screw up my eyes and strain my sight, I cannot see it not round and not bounded, and in spite of my knowing about infinite space, I am incontestably right when I see a solid blue dome, and more right than when I strain my eyes to see beyond it.' Levin ceased thinking, 'and only, as it were, listened to mysterious voices that seemed talking joyfully and earnestly within him.' 'Can this be faith?' he thought, 'afraid to believe in his happiness.' 'My God, I thank Thee!' he said, 'gulping down his sobs, and with both hands brushing away the tears that filled his eyes.'