"No, if you want to punish him terribly, fearfully, with the most horrible punishment imaginable, but so as to save and restore his soul forever -- then overwhelm him with your mercy! You will see, you will hear how his soul will tremble and be horrified: 'Is it for me to endure this mercy, for me to be granted so much love, and am I worthy of it?' he will exclaim!
"The soul will expand and behold how merciful God is, and how beautiful and just people are. He will be horrified, he will be overwhelmed with repentance and the countless debt he must henceforth repay."
--from Defense Attorney's Speech in Brothers Karamazov, by Dostoevsky (the defendant would go on to be convicted of a crime he did not commit -- at least not directly). This quote is found in Part IV, Book Twelve, Chapter 13.
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