Fyodor Dostoevsky

He was one of the numerous and varied legion of dullards, of half-animated abortions, conceited, half-educated coxcombs, who attach themselves to the idea most in fashion only to vulgarize it and who caricature every cause they serve, however sincerely.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

He was one of the numerous and varied legion of dullards, of half-animated abortions, conceited, half-educated coxcombs, who attach themselves to the idea most in fashion only to vulgarize it and who caricature every cause they serve, however sincerely.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

If everything on earth were rational, nothing would happen.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

The greatest happiness is to know the source of unhappiness.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Humanity can live without science, it can live without bread, but it cannot live without beauty.

Without beauty, there would be nothing left to do in this life.

Here the secret lies.

Here lies the entire story.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Humanity can live without science, it can live without bread, but it cannot live without beauty.

Without beauty, there would be nothing left to do in this life.

Here the secret lies.

Here lies the entire story.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

The most offensive is not their lying – one can always forgive lying – lying is a delightful thing, for it leads to truth – what is offensive is that they lie and worship their own lying.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Love the animals, love the plants, love everything.

If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things.

Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day.

And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Love the animals, love the plants, love everything.

If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things.

Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day.

And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Life is a gift, life is happiness, every minute can be an eternity of happiness.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Above all, don’t lie to yourself. 

The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. 

And having no respect he ceases to love.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Above all, don’t lie to yourself. 

The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. 

And having no respect he ceases to love.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart.

The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he’s in prison.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

My friend, the truth is always implausible, did you know that?

To make the truth more plausible, it’s absolutely necessary to mix a bit of falsehood with it.

People have always done so.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?

Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

What man wants is simply independent choice, whatever that independence may cost and wherever it may lead.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

But men love abstract reasoning and neat systematization so much that they think nothing of distorting the truth, closing their eyes and ears to contrary evidence to preserve their logical constructions.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Man is a creature that can get accustomed to anything, and I think that is the best definition of him.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Wealth is the number of things one can do without.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

My soul bleeds and the blood steadily, silently, disturbingly slowly, swallows me whole.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Nature doesn’t ask your permission; it doesn’t care about your wishes, or whether you like its laws or not.

You’re obliged to accept it as it is, and consequently all its results as well.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

The more I detest men individually the more ardent becomes my love for humanity.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Nothing is more seductive for a man than his freedom of conscience, but nothing is a greater cause of suffering.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

There is immeasurably more left inside than what comes out in words.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Intelligence alone is not nearly enough when it comes to acting wisely.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

Only through suffering can we find ourselves.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

The secret of man’s being is not only to live but to have something to live for.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

I gave up caring about anything, and all the problems disappeared.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky

To go wrong in one’s own way is better then to go right in someone else’s.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky