Fyodor Dostoevsky

Quotes are word for word from the source.

• Understanding human nature

  “Man is a mystery: if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time.”

  Our noteDostoevsky wrote to his brother about his commitment to studying the meaning of life.

• Perception of genius

  “Inventors and geniuses have almost always been looked on as no better than fools at the beginning of their career, and very frequently at the end of it also.”

  Our noteReflecting on how society views original thinkers in The Idiot.

• Practicality and originality

  “Lack of originality, everywhere, all over the world, from time immemorial, has always been considered the foremost quality and the recommendation of the active, efficient and practical man...”

  Our noteCritiquing the societal preference for efficiency over originality in The Idiot.

• Learning and perfection

  “To achieve perfection, one must first begin by not understanding many things! And if we understand too quickly, we may not understand well.”

  Our noteDiscussing the slow process of deep understanding in The Idiot.

• Heart over head

  “Dreams seem to be spurred on not by reason but by desire, not by the head but by the heart”

  Our noteDostoevsky reflects on the irrational but powerful nature of human dreams.

• Limits of language

  “on awakening I was, of course, incapable of clothing them in our poor language, so that they were bound to become blurred in my mind”

  Our noteThe difficulty of translating a powerful vision into everyday communication.

• Human nature

  “As a general rule, people, even the wicked, are much more naïve and simple-hearted than we suppose. And we ourselves are, too.”

  Our noteObserving the inherent simplicity and naivety found in most human beings.

• Active effort

  “But active love is labour and fortitude, and for some people too, perhaps, a complete science.”

  Our noteContrasting idealistic dreams of love with the hard work of actual service.

• The definition of hell

  “Fathers and teachers, I ponder, "What is hell?" I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.”

  Our noteDostoevsky reflects on the spiritual nature of suffering and the absence of love.

• Truth over power

  “Faith is not in power but in truth.”

  Our noteA brief statement on the foundation of genuine belief and conviction.