Fyodor Dostoyevsky Quotes

Most popular Fyodor Dostoyevsky Quotes

It seems, in fact, as though the second half of a man's life is usually made up of nothing but the habits he has accumulated during the first half. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
It seems, in fact, as though the second half of a man's life is usually made up of nothing but the habits he has accumulated during the first half.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky The Possessed

habit

If there is no God, everything is permissible. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
If there is no God, everything is permissible.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

God morals

In order to act wisely it is not enough to be wise. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
In order to act wisely it is not enough to be wise.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

wisdom

Neither man nor nation can exist without a sublime idea. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Neither man nor nation can exist without a sublime idea.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky The Diary of a Writer

ideas

Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

lying

Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy. It's only that. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy. It's only that.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

unhappiness

Man is a pliable animal, a being who gets accustomed to everything! - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Man is a pliable animal, a being who gets accustomed to everything!
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

mankind

It is not miracles that generate faith, but faith that generates miracles. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
It is not miracles that generate faith, but faith that generates miracles.

faith miracles

The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The secret of man's being is not only to live but to have something to live for. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
The secret of man's being is not only to live but to have something to live for.

purpose of life

When he has lost all hope, all object in life, man becomes a monster in his misery. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
When he has lost all hope, all object in life, man becomes a monster in his misery.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky House of the Dead

hope

Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky Complete Collected Works

communication speak your mind unhappiness

Originality and a feeling of one's own dignity are achieved only through work and struggle. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Originality and a feeling of one's own dignity are achieved only through work and struggle.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky The Diary of a Writer

dignity

If you can put the question, "Am I or am I not responsible for my acts" then you are responsible. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
If you can put the question, "Am I or am I not responsible for my acts" then you are responsible.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky Reader’s Digest

responsibility

Until you have become really, in actual fact, a brother to every one, brotherhood will not come to pass. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Until you have become really, in actual fact, a brother to every one, brotherhood will not come to pass.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky
How many ideas have there been in the history of the human race that were unthinkable ten years before they appeared? - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
How many ideas have there been in the history of the human race that were unthinkable ten years before they appeared?
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

society

Yes, that's right . . . love should come before logic . . . Only then will man come to understand the meaning of life. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Yes, that's right . . . love should come before logic . . . Only then will man come to understand the meaning of life.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Inventors and men of genius have almost always been regarded as fools at the beginning — and very often at the end — of their careers. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Inventors and men of genius have almost always been regarded as fools at the beginning — and very often at the end — of their careers.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Without some goal and some effort to reach it, no man can live.  When he has lost all hope, all object in life, man becomes a monster in his misery. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Without some goal and some effort to reach it, no man can live.  When he has lost all hope, all object in life, man becomes a monster in his misery.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky House of the Dead

goals

If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky The Insulted and Injured

respect self-respect

Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys.  If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys.  If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky Notes From the Underground

trouble

Money is coined liberty, and so it is ten times dearer to the man who is deprived of freedom. If money is jingling in his pocket, he is half consoled, even though he cannot spend it. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Money is coined liberty, and so it is ten times dearer to the man who is deprived of freedom. If money is jingling in his pocket, he is half consoled, even though he cannot spend it.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky House of the Dead

freedom money

All is in a man's hands and he lets it all slip from cowardice, that's an axiom.  It would be interesting to know what it is men are most afraid of.  Taking a new step, uttering a new word is what they fear most. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
All is in a man's hands and he lets it all slip from cowardice, that's an axiom.  It would be interesting to know what it is men are most afraid of.  Taking a new step, uttering a new word is what they fear most.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky Crime and Punishment

fear cowardice

Above all, do not lie to yourself. A man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point where he does not discern any truth either in himself or anywhere around him, and thus falls into disrespect towards himself and others. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
Above all, do not lie to yourself. A man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point where he does not discern any truth either in himself or anywhere around him, and thus falls into disrespect towards himself and others.

lying self-deception

To crush, to annihilate a man utterly, to inflict on him the most terrible of punishments so that the most ferocious murderer would shudder at it and dread it beforehand, one need only give him work of an absolutely, completely useless and irrational character. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
To crush, to annihilate a man utterly, to inflict on him the most terrible of punishments so that the most ferocious murderer would shudder at it and dread it beforehand, one need only give him work of an absolutely, completely useless and irrational character.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky House of the Dead

work

When I look back on my past and think how much time I wasted on nothing, how much time has been lost in futilities, errors, laziness, incapacity to live; how little I appreciated it, how many times I sinned against my heart and soul-then my heart bleeds. Life is a gift, life is happiness, every minute can be an eternity of happiness. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky quote.
When I look back on my past and think how much time I wasted on nothing, how much time has been lost in futilities, errors, laziness, incapacity to live; how little I appreciated it, how many times I sinned against my heart and soul-then my heart bleeds. Life is a gift, life is happiness, every minute can be an eternity of happiness.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

carpe diem