28 January–3 February 1856

Am in Petersburg. Brother Dmitri is dead, I heard of it to-day. From to-morrow I want to spend my days so that it should be pleasant to remember them. To-morrow will write to Pelageya Ilinishna and to the steward, and make a clean copy of The Snow-Storm . Will dine at the Chess Club and go on copying The Snow-Storm. Will call on Turgenev in the evening, in the morning will walk for an hour. Have read over a very practical page of my Diary, where I say that we must not confuse perfection with perfecting and must strive towards both by negative means. My chief shortcomings are idle habits, lack of order, sensuality, and a passion for gambling. Will struggle against them.