“Why are you so unsociable? You never talk about anything.”
“What shall I talk about, since I know nothing!” said Foma, plainly.
“Study—read books.”
“I don’t feel like doing it.”
“You see, the Gymnasium students know everything, and know how to talk about everything. Take Yozhov, for instance.”
“I know Yozhov—a chatterbox.”
“You simply envy him. He is very clever—yes. He will soon graduate from the Gymnasium—and then he’ll go to Moscow to study in the University.”
“Well, what of it?” said Foma, indifferently.
“And you’ll remain just an ignorant man.”
“Well, be it so.”