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Quote by Ivan Turgenev

“What's terrible is that there's nothing terrible, that the very essence of life is petty, uninteresting, and degradingly trite.”

Quote by Ivan Turgenev

Author

A renowned Russian novelist, born on November 9, 1818, and died on September 3, 1883. His works deeply depicted the changes in Russian society, particularly focusing on the lives of peasants and nobility. His representative works include 'Notes of a Hunter' and 'Fathers and Sons'. more

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“Belonging to oneself--the whole essence of life lies in that.”

Life Whole Lying Freedom Essence Oneself Belonging Essence Of Life

Book:The essential Turgenev

Source: The essential Turgenev

“Art, if one employs this term in the broad sense that includes poetry within its realm, is an art of creation laden with ideals, located at the very core of the life of a people, defining the spiritual and moral shape of that life.”

People Ifs Art Spiritual Artist Term Moral Creativity Creation Shapes Ideals Core Realms Broads Idealism Defining

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“As for work, without it, without painstaking work, any writer or artist definitely remains a dilettante; there's no point in waiting for so-called blissful moments, for inspiration; if it comes, so much the better--but you keep working anyway.”

Ifs Inspirational Art Moments Inspiration Artist Waiting Work Remains No Point Without Pain Dilettantes

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Source: Essential Turgenev

“Love isn't actually a feeling at all--it's an illness, a certain condition of body and soul.... Usually it takes possession of someone without his permission, all of a sudden, against his will--just like cholera or a fever.”

Soul Feelings Body Certain Love Is Conditions Illness Possession Permission Fever Cholera

Book:Essential Turgenev

Source: Essential Turgenev

“Tempered, gradual animation, the methodical restrain of sensations and energies, the equilibrium of sickness and health in each creature--this is nature's essence, its immutable law, this is what it's based on and what it adheres to.”

Law Energy Nature Health Creatures Essence Sickness Sensations Animation Equilibrium Methodical

Book:Essential Turgenev

Source: Essential Turgenev

“Each individual is more or less dimly aware of his significance, is aware that he's something innately superior, something eternal--and lives, is obligated to live, in the moment and for the moment.”

Self Moments Life Is Individual Eternal Eternity Superiors Significance Live In The Moment Transience

Author:Ivan Turgenev

“Sternly, remorselessly, fate guides each of us; only at the beginning, when we're absorbed in details, in all sorts of nonsense, in ourselves, are we unaware of its harsh hand.”

Hands Fate Ignorance Details Guides Nonsense Harsh

Book:The essential Turgenev

Source: The essential Turgenev

“All human beings hang by a thread, an abyss may open under their feet at any moment, and yet they have to go and invent all sortsof difficulties for themselves and spoil their lives.”

Humans May Moments Human Beings Feet Human Nature Difficulty Disaster Thread Abyss Spoil Discontent

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“Oh youth, youth! You don't worry about anything; you seem to possess all the treasures of the universe--even sorrow gives you pleasure, even grief suits you.... And perhaps the whole secret of your charm lies not in your ability to do everything, but in your ability to think that you will do everything.”

Thinking Giving Whole Seems Lying Universe Ability Pleasure Grief Secret Worry Youth Sorrow Treasure Suits Charm Suits You

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“There's only one way for an individual to remain upright, not to fall to pieces, not to sink into the mire of self-oblivionorself-contempt. That's calmly to turn away from everything, to say, "Enough!" and, folding one's useless arms across one's empty breast, to retain the ultimate, the sole attainable virtue, the virtue of recognizing one's own insignificance.”

Way Self Enough Turns Fall Individual Virtue Pieces Arms Empty Ultimate One Way Useless Breasts Pessimism Contempt Sole Recognizing Renunciation Insignificance Folding

Author:Ivan Turgenev