It is easy to be a philosopher in academia, but it is very difficult to be a philosopher in life.
In Russia there is no philosophy, but philosophize everything, even the small fry.
It is easier to ask of the poor than of the rich.
Ah, Caviar! I keep on eating it, but can never get my fill. Like olives. It’s a lucky thing it’s not salty.
When performing an autopsy, even the most inveterate spiritualist would have to question where the soul is.
Country acquaintances are charming only in the country and only in the summer. In the city in winter they lose half of their appeal.
To believe in God is not hard. Inquisitors, Byron and Arakcheev believed in Him. No, believe in man!
At the door of every happy person there should be a man with a hammer whose knock would serve as a constant reminder of the existence of unfortunate people.
The bourgeoisie loves so-called “positive” types and novels with happy endings since they lull one into thinking that it is fine to simultaneously acquire capital and maintain one’s innocence, to be a beast and still be happy.
Solomon made a big mistake when he asked for wisdom.
Never bring a cannon on stage in Act I unless you intend to fire it by the last act.
Then I feel so happy and at the same time so sad, it’s unimaginable.
I’ve never been in love. I’ve dreamt of it day and night, but my heart is like a fine piano no one can play because the key is lost.
In short stories it is better to say not enough than to say too much, because, because – I don’t know why.
A man wants nothing so badly as a gooseberry farm.
Try to reason about love, and you will lose your reason.
Satiation, like any state of vitality, always contains a degree of impudence, and that impudence emerges first and foremost when the sated man instructs the hungry one.
If there’s any illness for which people offer many remedies, you may be sure that particular illness is incurable, I think.
One can prove or refute anything at all with words. Soon people will perfect language technology to such an extent that they’ll beproving with mathematical precision that twice two is seven.
Without a knowledge of languages you feel as if you don’t have a passport.