1,167 Quotes by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

My God, but what do I care about the laws of nature and arithmetic if for some reason these laws and two times two is four are not to my liking? To be sure, I won't break through such a wall with my forehead if I really have not got strength to do it, but neither will I be reconciled with it simply because I have a stone wall here and have not got strength enough.

And with love one can live even without happiness.

And who knows (one cannot vouch for it), perhaps the whole goal mankind strives for on earth consists just in this ceaselessness of the process of achievement alone, that is to say, in life itself, and not essentially in the goal, which, of course, is bound to be nothing other than two times two is four--that is, a formula; and two times two is four is no longer life, gentlemen, but the beginning of death.

for man seeks not so much God as the miraculous

And it was not that he seemed to have forgotten or intentionally forgiven the affront, but simply that he did not regard it as an affront

Dar bir evde düşüncelerin de daraldığını fark etmiştim.

C'est en vain que le rêveur fouille, comme la cendre, ses rêves anciens, cherchant dans cette cendre ne fût-ce qu'une braise, pour lui souffler dessus et, par un feu renouvelé, réchauffer un cœur qui s'éteint, ressusciter en lui ce qui lui fut si cher, ce qui l'émouvait tant, ce qui faisait bouillir son sang, lui arrachait des larmes et l'abusait si somptueusement !

I'm now asking an idle question of my own: which is better--cheap happiness, or lofty suffering? Well, which is better?

A decent, educated man cannot afford the luxury of vanity without being exceedingly exacting with himself and without occasionally despising himself to the point of hatred.