How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Allow me, Mr. Ivolgin," [Ippolit] said irritably. "What is the good of all this rigmarole? Pardon me. All is now clear, and we acknowledge the truth of your main point. Why go into these tedious details? You wish perhaps to boast of the cleverness of your investigation, to cry up your talents as detective? Or perhaps your intention is to excuse Burdovsky, by proving that he took up the matter in ignorance? Well, I consider that extremely impudent on your part! You ought to know that Burdovsky has no need of being excused or justified by you or anyone else! It is an insult! The affair is quite painful enough for him without that. Will nothing make you understand?" (2.9.12)
So not only do the nihilists value nothing, they don't even acknowledge the idea of forgiveness as a part of human relations. Which kind of makes sense, since the idea of forgiveness has to do with acknowledging and then letting go of an emotional IOU. These guys don't really believe that they could ever owe anyone anything.
Quote #8
[Prokofievna said,] "[Burdovsky] declares that your humbug of a landlord revised this gentleman's article—the article that was read aloud just now—in which you got such a charming dressing-down." […]
"Absolutely, your excellency," said Lebedev, without the least hesitation.
Mrs. Epanchin almost sprang up in amazement at his answer, and at the assurance of his tone.
"He actually seems to boast of it!" she cried. […]
"The prince will forgive me!" said Lebedev with emotional conviction. […]
Lizabeta Prokofievna was about to rise, when she saw Ippolit laughing, and turned upon him with irritation. "Well, sir, I suppose you wanted to make me look ridiculous?"
"Heaven forbid!" he answered, with a forced smile. "But I am more than ever struck by your eccentricity, Lizabeta Prokofievna. I admit that I told you of Lebedev's duplicity, on purpose. I knew the effect it would have on you,—on you alone, for the prince will forgive him. He has probably forgiven him already, and is racking his brains to find some excuse for him—is not that the truth, prince?" (2.10.10-30)
Wow, Myshkin really would be completely infuriating to know, what with his immediate and totally baseless forgiveness of pretty much anyone for pretty much anything. Doesn't forgiveness kinda lose its value when someone just hands it out willy-nilly to everyone? If he's willing to forgive those who are clearly crooks and scumbags, then what does it matter that he can look at Nastasya and forgive her as well? Doesn't this kind of put her on the same level as the low-lifes?
Quote #9
"It seems to me, Mr. Kolya, that you were very foolish to bring your young friend down—if he is the same consumptive boy who wept so profusely, and invited us all to his own funeral," remarked Evgeny Pavlovitch. "He talked so eloquently about the blank wall outside his bedroom window, that I'm sure he will never support life here without it." […]
"Oh, you must forgive [Ippolit] the blank wall," said the prince, quietly. "He has come down to see a few trees now, poor fellow."
"Oh, I forgive him with all my heart; you may tell him so if you like," laughed Evgeny.
"I don't think you should take it quite like that," said the prince, quietly, and without removing his eyes from the carpet. "I think it is more a case of his forgiving you."
"Forgiving me! Why so? What have I done to need his forgiveness?"
"If you don't understand, then—but of course, you do understand. He wished—he wished to bless you all round and to have your blessing—before he died—that's all." (3.1.89-96)
That's a pretty cool forgiveness switcheroo here. It doesn't take all that much sympathy on Radomsky's part for him to utter this half-hearted "sorry" about Ippolit's blather about the wall. But when Myshkin flips it around on him, he forces Radomsky to really try to empathize with Ippolit's position. The guy wanted to wax philosophic about death and instead became a laughingstock for his trouble.