In this article, the author talks about Bakhtin's ethical concerns on the teaching of novels. In his writings on ethics, Bakhtin outlined numerous ways in which thinkers can avoid engaging with the world. They can live "representatively" by allowing the ideology or religion to which they subscribe make their moral decisions for them. Intellectual systems thus provide an "alibi for being," to use Bakhtin's term. But to be truly alive and truly ethical is to recognize that "there is no alibi." Without any guarantees, one must directly engage with others and expose oneself to perspectives and feelings different from one's own. One must "risk" one's sense of self and most cherished values. The author also mentions about Bakhtin's idea of "dialogue" and fostering the enriching dialogue by helping students learn three skills namely, (1) translation; (2) identify; and (3) impersonate. (Contains 4 notes.)