Book XI, Chapter 4
Fyodor Dostoevsky
In Dostoevsky's time, the innocence of children was a recurring motif, offering a stark contrast to the corruption perceived in adult society. The quote suggests children act as moral touchstones, their purity capable of guiding even the most hardened hearts. In a world striving for redemption, the childlike qualities of wonder and innocence become the most potent spiritual guides. The reference to angels underscores their status as untainted and divine in nature.