Quotessence
Home / Authors / Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky Quotes

Novelist

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenIfsKnowsPeopleWorldBrothers KaramazovSufferingHeartWholeLifeLoveHumansMaySoulThinkingCrime And PunishmentLyingEarthBelieveDeep Thought

Famous Fyodor Dostoevsky Quotes

“The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him.”

MenLyingHe ManRespectHuman ExperienceSelf DeceptionLove And RespectTruth And LiesNo RespectDon't LieRespect WomenLove RespectLies TruthRespect PeopleBrothers KaramazovTrust And RespectI Don't LieSelf Respect In LoveLying To YourselfSelf Respect And LoveWomen Self Respect
Book:The Greatest Works of Dostoevsky: Crime and Punishment + The Brother's Karamazov + The Idiot + Notes from Underground + The Gambler + Demons (The Possessed / The Devils)
Create image

“I must have justice, or I will destroy myself. And not justice in some remote and infinite time and space, but here on Earth...I want to see with my own eyes the lamb lie down with the lion and the victim rise up and embrace his murderer. I want to be there when everyone suddenly understands what it has all been about. All the religions of the world are built on this longing, and I am a believer.”

WorldWantEyeEarthLyingJusticeMy OwnSpaceBuiltInfiniteVictimEmbraceLongingBelieverLionsMurdererTime And SpaceLambsInfinite Time
Author:Fyodor Dostoevsky
Create image

“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.”

MenLoveLifeSelfTruthLyingLosesConsciousnessRespectCeaseSelf RespectHuman ExperienceSelf DeceptionRespecting OthersDisrespectBe True To YourselfLove And RespectNo RespectRespect YourselfNew Years ResolutionDon't LieRespect WomenLove RespectRespect PeopleBrothers KaramazovTrust And RespectI Don't LieLiving A LieSelf Respect In LoveLying To YourselfSelf Respect And LoveWomen Self RespectLost Respect
Author:Fyodor Dostoevsky
Create image

“With old liars who have been acting all their lives there are moments when they enter so completely into their part that they tremble or shed tears in earnest, although at that very moment, or a second later, they are able to whisper to themselves, "You know you are lying, you shameless old sinner! You're acting now, in spite of your 'holy' wrath.”

KnowsHas BeensMomentsAbleLyingActingTearsHolySpiteSinnerLiarsShedEarnestWrathShamelessActing Now
Author:Fyodor Dostoevsky
Create image

“Brother, I’m not depressed and haven’t lost spirit. Life everywhere is life, life is in ourselves and not in the external. There will be people near me, and to be a human being among human beings, and remain one forever, no matter what misfortunes befall, not to become depressed, and not to falter – this is what life is, herein lies its task.”

PeopleHumansMatterLife IsSpiritLyingLostHuman BeingsForeverHavensBrotherTasksNo Matter WhatMisfortunes
Author:Fyodor Dostoevsky
Create image

“The man who lies to himself can be more easily offended than anyone else. You know it is sometimes very pleasant to take offense, isn't it? A man may know that nobody has insulted him, but that he has invented the insult for himself, has lied and exaggerated to make it picturesque, has caught at a word and made a mountain out of a molehill--he knows that himself, yet he will be the first to take offense, and will revel in his resentment till he feels great pleasure in it.”

KnowsMenFeelsFirstsMayMadeSometimesLyingPleasureMountainCaughtPleasantInsultResentmentOffenseOffendedLiedExaggeratedInsultedPicturesqueEasily OffendedInsulted Him
Book:The Brothers Karamazov
Create image

“Obedience, fasting, and prayer are laughed at, yet only through them lies the way to real true freedom. I cut off my superfluous and unnecessary desires, I subdue my proud and wanton will and chastise it with obedience, and with God's help I attain freedom of spirit and with it spiritual joy.”

WayRealHelpingSpiritualJoySpiritLyingDesirePrayerCuttingProudObedienceLaughedUnnecessaryFastingSuperfluousTrue FreedomWantonSpiritual JoyReal True
Book:The Brothers Karamazov (English Russian Edition illustrated): Братья Карамазовы (англо-русская редакция иллюстрированная)
Create image

“Above all, avoid lies, all lies, especially the lie to yourself. Keep watch on your own lie and examine it every hour, every minute. And avoid contempt, both of others and of yourself: what seems bad to you in yourself is purified by the very fact that you have noticed it in yourself. And avoid fear, though fear is simply the consequence of every lie. Never be frightened at your own faintheartedness in attaining love, and meanwhile do not even be very frightened by your own bad acts.”

FactsSeemsLyingHoursWatchesMinutesConsequenceDeceitFrightenedContempt
Book:The Brothers Karamazov: A Novel in Four Parts With Epilogue
Create image

“All of a sudden I became aware of a little star in one of those patches and I began looking at it intently. That was because the little star gave me an idea: I made up my mind to kill myself that night. I had made up my mind to kill myself already two months before and, poor as I am, I bought myself an excellent revolver and loaded it the same day. But two months had elapsed and it was still lying in the drawer. I was so utterly indifferent to everything that I was anxious to wait for the moment when I would not be so indifferent and then kill myself. Why -- I don't know.”

KnowsMindLittlesMadeStillsTwoIdeasMomentsLyingNightStarsWaitingPoorMonthsExcellentAnxiousIndifferentPatchesLoadedDrawersTwo MonthsRevolver
Book:The Best Short Stories of Fyodor Dostoevsky
Create image

“A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and he ends up losing respect for himself and for others. When he has no respect for anyone, he can no longer love, and, in order to divert himself, having no love in him, he yields to his impulses, indulges in the lowest forms of pleasure, and behaves in the end like an animal. And it all comes from lying - lying to others and to yourself.”

MenBelieveEndsWisdomTruthFormLyingOrderPoliticsPleasureAnimalHonorLosingImpulseBehaveYieldLowestIndulgeNo LoveIndulge InNo Respect
Author:Fyodor Dostoevsky
Create image

“It is not the real punishment. The only effectual one, the only deterrent and softening one, lies in the recognition of sin by conscience.”

RealLyingSinConsciencePunishmentRecognitionDeceitDeterrent
Book:The Brothers Karamazov (English Russian Edition illustrated): Братья Карамазовы (англо-русская редакция иллюстрированная)
Create image

“Above all, don't lie to yourself.”

LyingRespectHuman ExperienceSelf DeceptionRespecting OthersLove And RespectNo RespectDon't LieRespect WomenLove RespectRespect PeopleBrothers KaramazovTrust And RespectI Don't LieSelf Respect In LoveLying To YourselfSelf Respect And LoveWomen Self RespectOccupy Yourself
Book:The Brothers Karamazov (English Russian Edition illustrated): Братья Карамазовы (англо-русская редакция иллюстрированная)
Create image