Verba Diei II

Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment explores more than the inner dialogue of a criminal; it explores the nature of truth itself. By Part III, the focus begins to shift from Raskolnikov's internal descent to the voices of morality around him. Among these voices is Razumikhin, a loyal friend who firmly represents independence and basic decency, despite his frustrations and rough nature. In Part III, Chapter I, Razumikhin challenges society's obsession with ideology and polished intellect. He doesn't advocate for the same perpetuated opinions; he simply wants honesty. Then, he delivers one of the most important insights in the novel:

"To talk nonsense in one's own way is almost better than to talk a truth that's someone else's; in the first instance you behave like a human being, while in the second you are merely being a parrot!" - Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment, Part III, Chapter I

This quote is more than a simple exchange of words; it's an expression of Razumikhin's perspective on existence. To repeat someone else's truth, even if it is correct, is to surrender the very thing that makes you human: your agency and autonomy. Razumikhin proposes that it's better to stumble through your own nonsensical beliefs and eventually come to a conclusion than to be a puppet for someone else's ideology. We live in a world obsessed with correctness; saying the right words, doing the right things, but just remember: stay true to yourself. So, where are you parroting instead of thinking independently? Truth isn't just about accuracy, it's also about ownership. A mistake you make honestly will bring you far more insight than a borrowed truth ever could... and sometimes, the deepest kind of honesty sounds like nonsense at first.