Without dogma is a novel of manners by Henryk Sienkiewicz, a Polish Nobel Prize in Literature winner, published in 1891. Its narrative concentrates around the experiences of Leon Płoszowski, a man from a wealthy aristocratic family, who struggles to find the meaning of life in world without morality by trying to self-analyze his feelings towards the encountered women. The novel has been associated to decadent movement, attacked for no clear condemnation of immoral acts and received as an attempt to picture the fin de siècle generation. Written in first person, the novel is the only one of Sienkiewicz's works that follows diary format.
“She wanted to be near her husband, and what would become of me was not taken into account.”
Henryk Sienkiewicz book Without Dogma
11 July
Without Dogma (1891)
Context: Aniela knew very well that her departure would be to me a more dangerous catastrophe than a wound on my head or the loss of an arm or leg; and yet she did not hesitate a moment. I was perfectly aware that it was all her doing. She wanted to be near her husband, and what would become of me was not taken into account.
Henryk Sienkiewicz book Without Dogma
11 November
Without Dogma (1891)
Context: I love her now beyond all words; she sees it, — she reads it in my eyes, and in my whole manner towards her. When I succeed in cheering her up, or call forth her smiles, I am beside myself with delight. There is at present in my love something of the attachment of the faithful servant who loves his mistress. I often feel as if I ought to humble myself before her, as if my proper place were at her feet. She never can grow ugly, changed, or old to me. I accept everything, agree to everything, and worship her as she is.
“I might have been your happiness, and became your misfortune.”
Henryk Sienkiewicz book Without Dogma
Rome, 5 December
Without Dogma (1891)
Context: I might have been your happiness, and became your misfortune. I am the cause of your death, for if I had been a different man, if I had not been wanting in all principles, all foundations of life, there would not have come upon you the shocks that killed you.
Henryk Sienkiewicz book Without Dogma
Leon Ploszowski in his first entry in his diary, "Rome, 9 January"
Without Dogma (1891)
“There is within us a moral instinct which forbids us to rejoice at the death of even an enemy.”
Henryk Sienkiewicz book Without Dogma
12 November
Without Dogma (1891)
Henryk Sienkiewicz book Without Dogma
Yet such is the fact. I may be ridiculous, but I love her thus, and it is not an artificial feeling.
12 July
Without Dogma (1891)
Henryk Sienkiewicz book Without Dogma
"Rome, 9 January"
Without Dogma (1891)
Context: My position is such that there is no necessity for me to enter into competition with struggling humanity. As to expensive and ruinous pleasures, I am a sceptic who knows how much they are worth, or rather, knows that they are not worth anything.
