“I do know what suffering is. It is terrible, not because it torments the body but because you no longer dream of ridding yourself of pain: you are prepared to rid yourself of your body. To die. You simply are not in a condition to think about matters such as the meaning of life and you see ridding yourself of suffering as the only meaning of death.” PainDeathSufferingThe Aviator Author:Evgenij Vodolazkin
“They embraced in parting. There were tears in the merchant’s eyes: “I do not like parting.” “Life consists of partings,” said Arseny. “But you can rejoice more fully in companionship when you remember that.” “But I would (the merchant Vladislav blew his nose) gather up all the good people I’ve met and never let them go.” “I think then they would quickly become mean,” smiled Ambrogio. (p. 238)” TearsLetting GoPartingGoodbyes Book:Laurus Source: Laurus
“So you say faith is not enough for you and you want knowledge, too. But knowledge does not involve spiritual effort; knowledge is obvious. Faith assumes effort. Knowledge is repose and faith is motion.” FaithKnowledgeSpiritual Effort Book:Laurus Source: Laurus
“An abundance of discoveries befogged the heads of my former contemporaries who made atheism a fashion, too. Even then, they were reminiscent of a ladybug on the highway who's charmed by her own motion and crawls a dozen meters. The ladybug seems to think she's learned and grasped everything. She will never find out, though, where the highway begins and where it leads.” KnowledgeAtheismThe Aviator Author:Evgenij Vodolazkin
“A little bird hops happily Along disaster's fences, As it does, it can't foresee Any consequences.” DisasterConsequencesThe Aviator Author:Evgenij Vodolazkin