Book 3 Chapter 15 Novodvoroff

Although Novodvoroff was highly esteemed of all the
revolutionists, though he was very learned, and considered very
wise, Nekhludoff reckoned him among those of the revolutionists
who, being below the average moral level, were very far below it.
His inner life was of a nature directly opposite to that of
Simonson's. Simonson was one of those people (of an essentially
masculine type) whose actions follow the dictates of their
reason, and are determined by it. Novodvoroff belonged, on the
contrary, to the class of people of a feminine type, whose reason
is directed partly towards the attainment of aims set by their
feelings, partly to the justification of acts suggested by their
feelings. The whole of Novodvoroff's revolutionary activity,
though he could explain it very eloquently and very convincingly,
appeared to Nekhludoff to be founded on nothing but ambition and
the desire for supremacy. At first his capacity for assimilating
the thoughts of others, and of expressing them correctly, had
given him a position of supremacy among pupils and teachers in
the gymnasium and the university, where qualities such as his are
highly prized, and he was satisfied. When he had finished his
studies and received his diploma he suddenly altered his views,
and from a modern liberal he turned into a rabid Narodovoletz, in
order (so Kryltzoff, who did not like him, said) to gain
supremacy in another sphere.

As he was devoid of those moral and aesthetic qualities which
call forth doubts and hesitation, he very soon acquired a
position in the revolutionary world which satisfied him--that of
the leader of a party. Having once chosen a direction, he never
doubted or hesitated, and was therefore certain that he never
made a mistake. Everything seemed quite simple, clear and
certain. And the narrowness and one-sidedness of his views did
make everything seem simple and clear. One only had to be
logical, as he said. His self-assurance was so great that it
either repelled people or made them submit to him. As he carried
on his work among very young people, his boundless self-assurance
led them to believe him very profound and wise; the majority did
submit to him, and he had a great success in revolutionary
circles. His activity was directed to the preparation of a rising
in which he was to usurp the power and call together a council. A
programme, composed by him, should be proposed before the
council, and he felt sure that this programme of his solved every
problem, and that it would be impossible not to carry it out.