a great speech

One of my favorite scenes in literature is in Dostoevsky's The Demons. There was a man who pretty much everyone respected, and this radical group was trying to court him and get him on their side, because he would be a powerful asset. So, after a period of time and getting to know each other, he agreed that he would come and speak at one of their meetings. 

They were stoked. It was a real coup. So, he arrives at the meeting and gets up to speak, and there are hundreds of people intently listening and ready to hang on every word. It's a crowd of true believers. 

He begins by talking about how he has really closely observed the group and thought deeply about his observations - really reflecting on the meaning and essence of the group. Then he tells them what he came up with - what he sees as the meaning and essence of the group. He says, it's really about (and everyone is expecting him to say something deep, but he says....) stupidity. 

It's one of the funniest and most memorable lines I've read.