Portrait of Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov

Playwright, short story writer

Modern influential 48 sayings

Sayings by Anton Chekhov

Perhaps the most interesting of all things is the human mind.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
General Unverifiable

There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what is right.

c. 1890s — From a letter
General Unverifiable

Happiness is not in money, but in the process of making it.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
General Unverifiable

The aim of fiction is to show what man is like, not to teach him what he ought to be.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
General Unverifiable

Everything on earth is beautiful, everything — except what we ourselves think and do when we forget the higher purposes of life and our own human dignity.

1899 — From the play, 'Uncle Vanya'
General Unverifiable

It's not enough to be happy, you must be a good person.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
General Unverifiable

Without work, all life is a putrefaction.

1892 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
General Unverifiable

The more refined and subtle one's mind, the more deeply one suffers.

1899 — From the short story, 'A Lady with a Dog'
General Unverifiable

The artist must not be a judge of his characters and their conversations, but only an unbiased witness.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
General Unverifiable

Man is a creature that can get used to anything.

1904 — From the play, 'The Cherry Orchard'
General Unverifiable

To gain the respect of others, you must first respect yourself.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
General Unverifiable

It is not a question of pessimism or optimism, but of being a good doctor.

1892 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
General Unverifiable

The artist's task is not to solve the problem, but to state the problem correctly.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
General Unverifiable

There is nothing new under the sun.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
General Unverifiable

We shall die, and they will bury us, and people will forget us. But we shall leave behind us our children, our thoughts, our work.

1901 — From the play, 'The Three Sisters'
General Unverifiable

The aim of art is to represent life in its forms and colors.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
General Unverifiable

Only during hard work can the soul be at rest.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
Religious Unverifiable

The common people love to be amused.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
General Unverifiable

It is not the business of the artist to solve problems, but to present them clearly.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
General Unverifiable

What is the purpose of art? To prepare for death, to make us live better.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
General Unverifiable
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