Vronsky meanwhile, in spite of the complete fulfilment of what he had so long desired, was not completely happy. He soon felt that the realization of… - Leo Tolstoy

He soon felt that the fulfillment of his desires gave him only one grain of the mountain of happiness he had expected. This fulfillment showed him the eternal error men make in imagining that their happiness depends on the realization of their desires.

Historically, Helchitsky attributes the degeneration of Christianity to the times of Constantine the Great, whom the Pope Sylvester admitted into the Christian Church with all his heathen morals and life. Constantine, in his turn, endowed the Pope with worldly riches and power. From that time forward these two ruling powers were constantly aiding one another to strive for nothing but outward glory. Divines and ecclesiastical dignitaries began to concern themselves only about subduing the whole world to their authority, incited men against one another to murder and plunder, and in creed and life reduced Christianity to a nullity. Helchitsky denies completely the right to make war and to inflict the punishment of death; every soldier, even the 'knight,' is only a violent evil doer—a murderer.

Without the support from religion — remember, we talked about it — no father, using only his own resources, would be able to bring up a child.

"الإيمان بكل بساطة هو تكثيفٌ للحب. ينبغي أن تُحب أكثر، وسيتحول الحب إلى إيمان.
إن الرجل العاشق قد يحسب المرأة التي يحبها أروع امرأة على وجه الأرض، وهذا لون من الإيمان.
ومعدوم الإيمان لا يُمكنه أن يُحب؛ فهو "يُحب" هذه يومًا وتلك بعد عام؛ إن أرواح هؤلاء مُتسكعة شريدة عقيم!"