I don’t understand anything about the ballet; all I know is that during the intervals the ballerinas stink like horses.

Who keeps the tavern and serves up the drinks? The peasant. Who squanders and drinks up money belonging to the peasant commune, the school, the church? The peasant. Who would steal from his neighbor, commit arson, and falsely denounce another for a bottle of vodka? The peasant.

The University brings out all abilities, including incapability.

There will come a time when everybody will know why, for what purpose, there is all this suffering, and there will be no more mysteries. But now we must live ... we must work, just work!

There should be more sincerity and heart in human relations, more silence and simplicity in our interactions. Be rude when you're angry, laugh when something is funny, and answer when you're asked.

Not one of our mortal gauges is suitable for evaluating non-existence, for making judgments about that which is not a person.

When asked, "Why do you always wear black?", he said, "I am mourning for my life.