A work of art contains its verification in itself: artificial, strained concepts do not withstand the test of being turned into images; they fall to pieces, turn out to be sickly and pale, convince no one. Works which draw on truth and present it to us in live and concentrated form grip us, compellingly involve us, and no one ever, not even ages hence, will come forth to refute them.

If one is forever cautious, can one remain a human being?

Do not pursue what is illusory - property and position: all that is gained at the expense of your nerves decade after decade, and is confiscated in one fell night. Live with a steady superiority over life - don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn after happiness; it is, after all, all the same: the bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never fills the cup to overflowing.

A great disaster had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.

It was wrong to be too pragmatic, to judge people solely by results; it was more humane to judge by intentions.

...it's only on a black day that you begin to have friends.

You should rejoice that you're in prison. Here you have time to think about your soul.