Ivan Turgenev

It's all romanticism, nonsense, rottenness, art.

However much you knock at nature's door, she will never answer you in comprehensible words.

But I think that I have already been moving too long in a sphere which is not my own. Flying fishes can hold out for a time in the air, but soon they must splash back into the water; allow me, too, to paddle in my own element.

Time sometimes flies like a bird, sometimes crawls like a snail; but a man is happiest when he does not even notice whether it passes swiftly or slowly.

Whatever a person may pray for that person prays for a miracle. Every prayer comes down to this Almighty God grant that two times two not equal four.

Illness isn't the only thing that spoils the appetite.

In the end, nature is inexorable: it has no reason to hurry and, sooner or later, it takes what belongs to it. Unconsciously and inflexibly obedient to its own laws, it doesn't know art, just as it doesn't know freedom, just as it doesn't know goodness.

People without firmness of character love to make up a fate for themselves; that relieves them of the necessity of having their own will and of taking responsibility for themselves.

In his heart he was highly delighted with his friend's suggestion, but he thought it a duty to conceal his feeling. He was not a nihilist for nothing!

We sit in the mud... and reach for the stars.

In days of doubt, in days of dreary musings on my country's fate, you alone are my comfort and support, oh great, powerful, righteous, and free Russian language!

To desire and expect nothing for oneself and to have profound sympathy for others is genuine holiness.

Nature creates while destroying, and doesn't care whether it creates or destroys as long as life isn't extinguished, as long as death doesn't lose its rights.

The word tomorrow was invented for indecisive people and for children.

Whatever a man prays for, he prays for a miracle. Every prayer reduces itself to this: great God, grant that twice two be not four.

Time, as is well known, sometimes flies like a bird and sometimes crawls like a worm, but human beings are generally particularly happy when they don't notice whether it's passing quickly or slowly.

One may speak about anything on earth with fire, with enthusiasm, with ecstasy, but one only speaks about oneself with avidity.

Circumstances define us; they force us onto one road or another, and then they punish us for it.

If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything, is ready, we shall never begin.

Miserable person lives without ideals

Death's an old joke, but each individual encounters it anew.

A poet must be a psychologist, but a secret one: he should know and feel the roots of phenomena but present only the phenomena themselves in full bloom or as they fade away.

Whatever a person may pray for, that person prays for a miracle. Every prayer comes down to this - Almighty God, grant that two times two not equal four.

Who among us has the strength to oppose petty egoism, those petty good feelings, pity and remorse?

Most people can't understand how others can blow their noses differently than they do.

Women... can't live with 'em... can't shoot 'em.

There are some moments in life, some feelings; one can only point to them and pass by.

I agree with no one's opinion. I have some of my own.