"'In the world outside the nations are bellowing with fury against oppression; but in Sweden all we do is to celebrate jubilees.
"'Pietism is the sole sign of spiritual life of the sleeping nation; it is the discontent which has thrown itself into the arms of resignation to avoid despair and impotent fury.
"'Pietists and pessimists start from the same principle, the misery of the world, and have the same aim: to die to the world and live to God.
"'The greatest sin man can commit is to be a Conservative from selfish motives. It is an attempt against the plan of the world for the sake of a few shillings; the Conservative tries to stem evolution; he plants his back against the rolling earth and says: "Stand still!" There is but one excuse: stupidity. Poor circumstances are no excuse, merely an explanation.
"'I wonder whether Norway is not going to prove a new patch on an old garment, as far as we are concerned?'"
"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Borg laying down the papers and drinking a small brandy.
"Not bad," said Sellén, "it might have been expressed more wittily."
"What do you think, Falk?"
"The usual cry—nothing more. Shall we go now?"
Borg looked at him, wondering whether he was speaking ironically, but he saw no danger-signal in Falk's face.