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Notes from Underground quotes

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

English (12) Français (4)

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“You see, gentlemen, reason is an excellent thing, there's no disputing that, but reason is nothing but reason and satisfies only the rational side of man's nature, while will is a manifestation of the whole life, that is, of the whole human life...” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“In fact, I believe that the best definition of man is the ungrateful biped.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“I swear, gentlemen, that to be too conscious is an illness—a real thorough-going illness.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“suffering is the sole origin of consciousness.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“Destroy my desires, eradicate my ideals, show me something better, and I will follow you.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“Now, I am living out my life in my corner, taunting myself with the spiteful and useless consolation that an intelligent man cannot become anything seriously, and it is only the fool who becomes anything.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“The more conscious I was of goodness and of all that was 'sublime and beautiful,' the more deeply I sank into my mire and the more ready I was to sink in it altogether.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“Every man has reminiscences which he would not tell to everyone, but only to his friends. He has other matters in his mind which he would not reveal even to his friends, but only to himself, and that in secret. But there are other things which a...” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“the whole work of man really seems to consist in nothing but proving to himself every minute that he is a man and not a piano-key!” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“Man is sometimes extraordinarily, passionately, in love with suffering, and that is a fact.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“to care only for well-being seems to me positively ill-bred. Whether it's good or bad, it is sometimes very pleasant, too, to smash things.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground
“I did not understand that she was hiding her feelings under irony, that this is usually the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded, and that their pride makes them refuse...” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground

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free will suffering reason consciousness intelligence gratitude man love secret desire mind beauty passion hiding pleasure foolishness decency will feelings care

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Fyodor Dostoyevsky quotes