The Devil of Nanking

Mo Hayder

"You told me that ignorance and evil are not the same thing. Do you remember?"

"Yes. I remember."

"Is it true? Do you think it’s true? That ignorance isn’t evil?"

"Of course," he said. "Of course it’s true."

"You really mean it?"

"Of course I mean it. Ignorance you can forgive. Ignorance is never the same as evil. Why do you ask?"

"Because... because..." A feeling was racing through me, coming from nowhere, making me feel strangely powerful and lightheaded. "Because it’s one of the most important questions in the world."

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Sometimes people forget to be sympathetic and instead they blame you for everything, even for the things you did when you had no idea they were wrong.