Clavis Libri

Term

Right to dishonor

In Russian, право на бесчестье (pravo na besschestie), "right to dishonor" (our translation), denies честь, "honor." Karmazinov tells Pyotr that the essence of the Russian revolutionary idea is the denial of honor, and that the Russian lets himself be dragged faster by the open «правом на бесчестье». Pyotr repeats it to Stavrogin, who exclaims that everyone will come running.

Where It Appears

Quotes

The whole essence of the Russian revolutionary idea lies in the denial of honor. [...] For the Russian, honor is only one more burden. And it has always been a burden, throughout its entire history. It is by the open "right to dishonor" that he can be dragged along most quickly.

Part Two: The Waiting Town, Karmazinov