[Six principles that make for a good story:] 1. Absence of lengthy verbiage of a political-social-economic nature; 2. total objectivity; 3. truthful descriptions of persons and objects; 4. extreme brevity; 5. audacity and originality: flee the stereotype; 6. compassion.

I expect I shall be a student to the end of my days.

The world perishes not from bandits and fires, but from hatred, hostility, and all these petty squabbles.

Anna Petrovna: Never talk to women about your own good qualities. Let them find out for themselves.

I've noticed that people who get married cease to be curious.

Three o'clock in the morning. The soft April night is looking at my windows and caressingly winking at me with its stars. I can't sleep, I am so happy.

Everything should be first-rate in a person, his face, clothes, soul and thoughts.