Anton Chekhov quotes - page 10

When in a serious mood, it seems to me that those people are illogical who feel an aversion toward death. As far as I can see, life consists exclusively of horrors, unpleasantnesses and banalities, now merging, now alternating. (Anton Chekhov)
One can only call that youth healthful which refuses to be reconciled to old ways and which, foolishly or shrewdly, combats the old. This is nature's charge and all progress hinges upon it. View quote
Anton Chekhov
How intolerable people are sometimes who are happy and successful in everything. View quote
Anton Chekhov
Eyes-the head's chief of police. They watch and make mental notes. A blind person is like a city abandoned by the authorities. On sad days they cry. In these carefree times they weep only from tender emotions. View quote
Anton Chekhov
Mankind has conceived history as a series of battles; hitherto it has considered fighting as the main thing in life. View quote
Anton Chekhov
Dinner at the "Continental" to commemorate the great reform [the abolition of the serfdom in 1861]. Tedious and incongruous. To dine, drink champagne, make a racket, and deliver speeches about national consciousness, the conscience of the people, freedom, and such things, while slaves in tail-coats are running round your tables, veritable serfs, and your coachmen wait outside in the street, in the bitter cold-that is lying to the Holy Ghost. View quote
Anton Chekhov
Despicable means used to achieve laudable goals render the goals themselves despicable. View quote
Anton Chekhov
The cherry orchard is now mine!... I bought the estate on which my grandfather and father were slaves, where they were not even permitted in the kitchen. View quote
Anton Chekhov
I would love to meet a philosopher like Nietzsche on a train or boat and to talk with him all night. Incidentally, I don't consider his philosophy long-lived. It is not so much persuasive as full of bravura. View quote
Anton Chekhov
When a person doesn't understand something, he feels internal discord: however he doesn't search for that discord in himself, as he should, but searches outside of himself. Thence a war develops with that which he doesn't understand. View quote
Anton Chekhov
Despite your best efforts, you could not invent a better police force for literature than criticism and the author's own conscience. (Anton Chekhov)
By all means I will be married if you wish it. But on these conditions: everything must be as it has been hitherto-that is, she must live in Moscow while I live in the country, and I will come and see her. ... I promise to be an excellent husband, but give me a wife who, like the moon, will not appear every day in my sky. View quote
Anton Chekhov
All Russia is our orchard. View quote
Anton Chekhov
There are no lower or higher or median moralities. There is only one morality, and it is precisely the one that was given to us during the time of Jesus Christ and that stops me, you and Barantsevich from stealing, offending others, lying etc. View quote
Anton Chekhov
If you really think about it, everything is wonderful in this world, everything except for our thoughts and deeds when we forget about the loftier goals of existence, about our human dignity. View quote
Anton Chekhov
Grigory Petrovitch, let us weep, let us weep with joy!" he said in a thin voice, and then at once burst out laughing in a loud bass guffaw. "Ho-ho-ho! This is a fine daughter-in-law for you too! Everything is in its place in her; all runs smoothly, no creaking, the mechanism works well, lots of screws in it. View quote
Anton Chekhov
My holy of holies is the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and the most absolute freedom imaginable, freedom from violence and lies, no matter what form the latter two take. Such is the program I would adhere to if I were a major artist. View quote
Anton Chekhov
He who constantly swims in the ocean loves dry land. View quote
Anton Chekhov
She read a lot, wrote letters without the letter ъ, ... View quote
Anton Chekhov
To a heart transformed by love, it is a mandolin. View quote
Anton Chekhov
I should think that for one who has tasted the joys of creation, no other pleasure could exist. (Anton Chekhov)
I promise to be an excellent husband, but give me a wife who, like the moon, will not appear every day in my sky. View quote
Anton Chekhov
Reason and justice tell me there's more love for humanity in electricity and steam than in chastity and vegetarianism. View quote
Anton Chekhov
Oh, what women are here! View quote
Anton Chekhov
I drank so much in Peter that Russia should be proud of me! View quote
Anton Chekhov