Anton Chekhov
Playwright, short story writer
Sayings by Anton Chekhov
Any idiot can face a crisis; it’s this day-to-day living that wears you out.
Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress.
The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them.
Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
The world is, of course, nothing but our conception of it.
Brevity is the sister of talent.
Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.
If you cry ‘Forward!’ you must make sure in which direction.
The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for.
Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress; when I get tired of one, I spend the night with the other.
Life is a vexatious thing, and love is an even greater vexation.
A man is what he believes.
Love, friendship, respect, admiration all make us feel that life is worth living.
He who is not a man, is not a priest.
People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.
The public likes to be fooled.
Man is what he reads.
The greater the artist, the greater the doubt. Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize.
One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it.
If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there.