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Aksyonov is the protagonist of the “God Sees the Truth, But Waits.” At the outset of the story he is a youthful and prosperous merchant in the town of Vladimir, Russia, where he lives with his wife and children, enjoys occasional bouts of drinking, and owns two shops and a house. On the way to the commercial Fair at Nizhny, Aksyonov meets his merchant friend for tea at an inn. The next day, Aksyonov learns that his friend has been killed and Aksyonov is wrongly arrested for murdering him when the police find a bloody knife in his bag. This begins a long ordeal that escalates from his being separated from his family to his being flogged and sentenced to hard labor in Siberia. During Aksyonov’s 26th year at the labor camp, he meets and inmate named Makar Semyonov who suspiciously seems to recognize him. When Makar attempts to escape the camp, Aksyonov covers for him by lying to the Governor. This act of kindness that prompts Makar to guiltily confess that it was he who murdered the merchant and framed Aksyonov for the crime by planting the bloody knife. At first, Aksyonov is angry, but he decides to forgive Makar and assures him that God, too, will forgive him. This display of strength spurs a spiritual awakening in Aksyonov, and trusts that God knows the truth and will deliver due justice in the afterlife. Eventually, Makar confesses and Aksyonov is finally pardoned for his crimes, but he dies in the labor camp before he can be released. By the time of his death, he is fully committed to being a “Man of God,” as his fellow prisoners call him, and he has accepted his journey of persecution and suffering as an opportunity to atone for past sins and to achieve salvation by pursuing a life of deep spiritual devotion.
Ivan Dmitriyevich Aksyonov Quotes in God Sees the Truth But Waits
The God Sees the Truth But Waits quotes below are all either spoken by Ivan Dmitriyevich Aksyonov or refer to Ivan Dmitriyevich Aksyonov. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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God Sees the Truth But Waits Quotes
“Don’t worry, I’ll do some good business there, make a nice little profit and then I can bring you back some expensive presents!”
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This is Aksyonov’s parting comment to his wife upon leaving the town of Vladimir and his family for the commercial Fair at Nizhny. On the way to Nizhny, Aksyonov is falsely arrested for murder, setting off a journey of persecution and hardship that will culminate in his incarceration in Siberia and his permanent dislocation from his family. Before Aksyonov makes this comment, Aksyonov’s wife foresees his ordeal in a nightmare in which his hair turns completely gray; she expresses sincere concern and encourages him to stay home. This quote highlights the ease with which Aksyonov brushes off her concerns (he Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut
“This morning the merchant was found in bed with his throat cut. No one else but you could have done it. The hut was locked on the inside and no one else was there. And now we find this bloodstained knife in your bag. I can see you’re guilty from your face. Come on, tell me how you murdered him and how much money you stole.”
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After Aksyonov’s merchant friend goes missing, Aksyonov is accused of murdering his friend and is interrogated by the district police inspector. It begins with a needless repetition; the inspector has already delivered the news that Aksyonov’s merchant friend, with whom Aksyonov shared tea at an inn the previous evening, has been found murdered. The inspector’s repetition of this news—which lays out graphic details about the crime scene for dramatic effect—can be seen as part of a strategy of intimidating his suspect. It is also a way of projecting his power as a representative of the state, since the inspector arrives Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Au
“Obviously, no one except God can know the truth… only from Him should I ask help, from Him alone can I expect mercy.”
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This quote is a thought, rather than a statement, by Aksyonov. It represents a moment of realization following a shocking meeting with his wife in the local jailhouse, before Aksyonov is removed to Siberia. Here, she informs him that the Tsar has rejected his last appeal and expresses suspicion that he may actually be guilty of murder. This meeting marks the final time that Aksyonov sees his wife and children, and Aksyonov’s permanent separation from his family is accompanied by his pivot—captured in these lines—from a life of worldliness and materialism towards intent to live a strictly spiritual life. The Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum volupt
“To pay for my sins I’ve done twenty-six years penal servitude.”
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This line is spoken by Aksyonov to his fellow prisoner Makar Semyonov, in response to Makar asking him why he was incarcerated. Even though Aksyonov is innocent of the crime of murder for which he was imprisoned, here he recognizes that his punishment has a legitimate spiritual purpose—that is, he sees his ordeal of earthly suffering at the hands of the corrupt state justice system as a proportionate penalty for the wrongs of his youth and as an opportunity to atone for his sins. This shows Aksyonov’s conviction to pivot towards a spiritual life and to concentrate on God’s judgment Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaqu
“It’s obvious the murderer was the one in whose bag the knife was found. If someone planted a knife on you he hasn’t been caught—no man is a thief until he’s caught! And how could anyone have slipped a knife into your bag? He’d have had to be standing right at the head of your bed—and then you’d have heard him.”
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This quote is part of Aksyonov’s first conversation with Makar Semyonov, a new inmate at the Siberian prison. Aksyonov has learned that Makar, like him, comes from the town of Vladimir. This remark by Makar leads Aksyonov to suspect that it was Makar who set him up for the murder of his merchant friend over two decades ago. Tolstoy makes it clear that Makar, before delivering this quote, has already recognized Aksyonov as the man he framed. Thus, this comment amounts to a cruel sort of toying with Aksyonov by Makar; Makar drops taunting hints that it was he who Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et even
“I could cover up for him, but why should I forgive the man who ruined me? […] Let him pay the price for all my suffering. On the other hand, they’re bound to flog him if I testify against him. And what if my suspicions are wrong? Would it make me feel any easier?”
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“I saw nothing and I know nothing.”
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Only the final line of this quote (“I saw nothing and I know nothing,” Aksyonov’s false reply to the Governor when the Governor asks him who dug a prison escape route) is spoken out loud; what precedes it is Aksyonov’s thought process and deliberations as to whether he should inform on his fellow inmate, Makar Semyonov, whom he discovered digging the tunnel the previous night. Aksyonov’s ultimate decision to lie to the Governor and protect Makar, notably, does not amount to forgiveness of Makar; rather, Aksyonov’s two reasons seem to be, first, that he does not wish to see Makar Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta
“Ivan Dmitriyevich, forgive me. For God’s sake forgive me! I’ll confess to the murder and they’ll grant you a pardon. Then you’ll be able to go home.”
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After Aksyonov protects Makar from the state authorities, refusing to tell the Governor that it was Makar who dug an escape tunnel, Makar comes to Aksyonov in private begging his forgiveness and admitting to having framed Aksyonov for the murder of his merchant friend 26 years ago (the crime for which Aksyonov was imprisoned). This represents a sharp change of course from Makar’s earlier insensitive mockery of Aksyonov; Makar previously toyed with Aksyonov by hinting that it was he who murdered the merchant and cruelly asking Aksyonov how he could have allowed himself to be set up. However, by the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae.
“It’s easy enough for you to go and tell them, but just think what I’ll have to endure! Where shall I go? My wife’s dead, my children will have forgotten me. I’ve nowhere to go…”
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This quote is Aksyonov’s response to Makar, after Makar offers to confess to the authorities that he set Aksyonov up for murder 26 years ago. Makar offers the confession as compensation for Aksyonov’s forgiveness, which Makar is desperate to receive. Aksyonov replies angrily that the terms of this exchange would be inappropriate, as Aksyonov’s release from prison would actually expose him to the psychological pain of having permanently lost his home and family. This quote represents a moment of regression in Aksyonov’s turn towards a purely spiritual outlook, showing that Aksyonov’s journey towards becoming an ideal, model “Man of God” Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae c
“Ivan Dmitriyevich! Forgive me! […] The flogging they gave me was easier to bear than looking at you now! When I think how you took pity on me and didn’t inform. Oh, forgive me for Christ’s sake! Forgive me—I’m such a rotten bastard!”
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This quote contains Makar Semyonov’s third repetition of his plea for Aksyonov’s forgiveness during Makar and Aksyonov’s dramatic encounter in Siberia near the end of the story. Makar, who framed Aksyonov for murder 26 years earlier, is moved by Aksyonov’s decision to protect him from an investigation by the Governor and feels overwhelmed by the imbalance of the harm he has done to Aksyonov versus the good Aksyonov has done to him. Though Makar here repeats his appeal for forgiveness, this appeal departs in significant ways from the one before it; whereas Makar previously tried to obtain Aksyonov’s forgiveness through Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea.
“God will forgive you. […] Perhaps I’m a hundred times worse.”
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This is the final quote spoken by the protagonist Aksyonov in the story. It marks the resolution of a long scene between Aksyonov and Makar Semyonov, a fellow inmate who framed him for murder 26 years ago, during which Makar continually begs Aksyonov for forgiveness. Though Aksyonov here withholds forgiveness from Makar, he reveals the overarching lesson of the story, a fable composed to instruct children in faith and morality—that one should turn away from the purported justice that comes from the state and from worldly authorities and place complete trust in God’s judgment, or restoration of moral order in Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut mini
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Ivan Dmitriyevich Aksyonov Character Timeline in God Sees the Truth But Waits
The timeline below shows where the character Ivan Dmitriyevich Aksyonov appears in God Sees the Truth But Waits. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
God Sees the Truth But Waits
Aksyonov, a well-to-do young merchant from the town of Vladimir, prepares to set off for the...
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Halfway to Nizhny, Aksyonov meets a merchant friend at an inn, where they have tea and spend the night...
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The police inspector orders a search of Aksyonov’s belongings and discovers a bloody knife. The inspector formally accuses Aksyonov of murder, and a...
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Aksyonov’s wife comes to visit him in jail. She collapses upon seeing her husband in prison...
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Aksyonov is flogged and then sent to a Siberian labor camp. He remains here for 26...
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During Aksyonov’s 26th year at the Siberian prison, a new group of convicts arrives. One of them,...
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Other inmates tell Makar about the merchant’s murder and Aksyonov’s wrongful arrest. Makar’s reaction to this information leads Aksyonov to suspect that it was Makar...
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One night, Aksyonov discovers Makar digging an escape tunnel. The next day, the authorities discover the hole, and...
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The following night, Aksyonov finds Makar sitting at the foot of his bunk. Makar, overwhelmed by Aksyonov’s goodness in...
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Aksyonov responds to Makar’s confession with indignation, claiming that even if Makar were to help him...
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Aksyonov tells Makar that God will forgive him. Aksyonov feels a weight off his shoulders and...
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Makar confesses to the authorities that it was he who murdered the merchant, not Aksyonov, and Aksyonov is officially exonerated. However, by the time permission arrives for him to be...
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