Fyodor Dostoevsky

The cleverest of all, in my opinion, is the man who calls himself a fool at least once a month.

I believe that if one were to destroy in mankind the belief in immortality, not only love but every living force maintaining the life of the world would at once be dried up.

Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy; it's only that. Whoever learns it will be happy at once, that instant.

It is only by love that we can understand God.

The more I live, the more I become convinced that the only true happiness in life is to live for others.

The greatest punishment for a man is to be alone.

If there is no God, everything is permitted.

Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer; nothing is more difficult than to understand him.

What is freedom? It is the right to choose your own chains.

The greatest thing is to love and be loved.

To exist is to be somewhere, and to be somewhere is to be a being.

It's a wonder how a single drop of wine can make so many people happy.

Talking nonsense is the sole privilege mankind possesses over the other organisms. It's by talking nonsense that people reach the truth.

I love mankind, but I am amazed at myself: the more I love mankind in general, the less I love people in particular, that is, individually, as separate persons.

What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.

One must love life before loving its meaning.

Power is the ability to not have to please.

The ultimate reason for human actions is self-interest.

Man is a being who can get used to anything.

Life is a gift, given to us by God, and if we live it right, we will be able to enjoy it forever.