title: Selected Works: The Insulted and Humiliated
author:  Fyodor Dostoyevsky 
description: Text: English (translation)<br /> Original Language: Russian
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  # The Dream Of a Ridiculous Man
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Fyodor Dostoevsky
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Munsey's.
  
  
  http://www.munseys.com
  
  ##### Translated by Constance Garnett.
  
  
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  ##### Translated by Constance Garnett.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ###
  
  
  I
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I am a ridiculous person. Now they call me a madman. That would be a
  
  
  promotion if it were not that I remain as ridiculous in their eyes as
  
  
  before. But now I do not resent it, they are all dear to me now, even
  
  
  when they laugh at me - and, indeed, it is just then that they are
  
  
  particularly dear to me. I could join in their laughter - not exactly
  
  
  at myself, but through affection for them, if I did not feel so sad as
  
  
  I look at them. Sad because they do not know the truth and I do know
  
  
  it. Oh, how hard it is to be the only one who knows the truth! But
  
  
  they won't understand that. No, they won't understand it.
  
  
    
  In old days I used to be miserable at seeming r