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Things in themselves are of little importance, have indeed—let us for once thank Metaphysics for something that she has taught us—no real existence. The spirit alone is of importance. Punishment may be inflicted in such a way that it will heal, not make a wound, just as alms may be given in such a manner that the bread changes to a stone in the hands of the giver. What a change there is—not in the regulations, for they are axed by iron rule, but in the spirit that uses them as its expression—you can realise when I tell you that had I been released last May, as I tried to be, I would have left this place loathing it and every official in it with a bitterness of hatred that would have poisoned my life. I have had a year longer of imprisonment, but Humanity has been in the prison along with us all, and now when I go out I shall always remember great kindnesses that I have received here from almost everybody, and on the day of my release will give my thanks to many people and ask to be remembered by them in turn.
事物本身算不了什么，的确——这一次就谢谢形而上学教给我们的道理吧——事物本身并没有真实的存在。只有精神才是重要的。实施惩罚的方式可以使惩罚治愈、而非制造创伤，正如施舍的方式可以让面包在施舍者手中变成石头那样。这一变有多大啊——变的不是规则，因为规则是铁定的，而是通过规则所表达的精神——我给你说了你就明白，假如我在去年五月获释，本想争取这样的，那离开时便会对这里以及这里的每一个官员破口大骂，那份刻骨仇恨将毒化我的一生。我又多关了一年，但这一年里人道精神陪伴着狱中的每一个人。现在获释，我将永远记住在这儿受到的几乎是来自每个人的善待，出狱那天将向许多人道谢，也请他们同样把我记住。
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