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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Miserable person lives without ideals

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!

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.

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.

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

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

The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.

Philosophy finds it an easy matter to vanquish past and future evils, but the present are commonly too hard for it.

Historians tell the story of the past, novelists the story of the present.

Crying over what's gone won't find the present.

The French are the wittiest, the most charming, and up to the present, at all events, the least musical race on Earth.

America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future.

The present condition of fame is merely fashion.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

It is certain, indeed, that the sacred writers were apt to make great allowances for people with empty stomachs, and though I am well aware that the present profane ones think this very reprehensible, I venture to agree with the sacred writers.

It also allows you to look as though you're not particularly from the present, future or past, either.

And for myself, I think for the present He is calling me to another land; but how long shall be my abode, or what employment He has for me there, I know not, for I cannot think He is taking me there to live and lurk only.

It is my intention to present - through the medium of photography - intuitive observations of the natural world which may have meaning to the spectators.

I see Canada as a country torn between a very northern, rather extraordinary, mystical spirit which it fears and its desire to present itself to the world as a Scotch banker.

The present government is very insistent that business sponsorship should replace government sponsorship of the arts. Business sponsorship won't happen unless you make tax concessions, which they won't.

All this happens without him knowing - they actually install cameras in his apartment and hire this girl to get him to fall in love with her so that she can be in the apartment and present him products without him knowing.

The past, the present and the future are really one: they are today.

I think it's bad to talk about one's present work, for it spoils something at the root of the creative act. It discharges the tension.

My future is in my past and my past is my present. I must now make the present my future.

I just wait for something to present itself, and then I consider it.

Creation is all space, all time - all things past, present, and future.