In book XI of Brothers Karamazov, as Dmitri Fyodorovich Karamazov begins to realize that he will probably not be acquitted of the murder of his father, and though it is plain that Dmitri did not do it, he declares to his brother Alyosha in almost poetic words his resolve and expectations. His words touch upon the universal desire of humanity for freedom. (At the time of the writing of this novel, Russia did not have capital punishment for murder, only very long sentences of confinement at hard labor in Siberia, a kind of living death.)
In the following words the use of the term "wee ones" refers back to a strange dream Dmitri has and is a term the peasants use for babies or small children.
Quote:
"All people are 'wee ones'. And I'll go for all of them, because there must be someone who will go for all of them. I didn't kill father, but I must go. I accept! All of this came to me here...within these peeling walls. And there are many, there are hundreds of them, underground, with hammers in their hands. Oh yes, we'll be in chains, and there will be no freedom, but then, in our great grief, we will arise once more into joy, without which it's not possible for man to live, or for God to be, for God gives joy, it's his prerogative, a great one...Lord, let man dissolve in prayer! How would I be there underground without God? Rakitin's lying: if God is driven from the earth, we'll meet him underground! It's impossible for a convict to be without God, even more impossible than for a non-convict! And then from the depths of the earth, we, the men underground, will start singing a tragic hymn to God, in whom there is joy! Hail to God and his joy! I love him!"
Unquote.
And to paraphrasingly quote CS Lewis, "Joy is the chief thing, anyone can get happiness from a bottle of Port".
With Joy that is from God, you can endure anything.
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