There is no idea, no fact, which could not be vulgarized and presented in a ludicrous light.

He who masters the grey everyday is a hero.

If the spirit has passed through a great many sensations, possibly it can no longer be sated with them, but grows more excited, and demands more sensations, and stronger and stronger ones, until at length it falls exhausted.

Alyosha's heart could not bear uncertainty, for the nature of his love was always active. He could not love passively; once he loved, he immediately also began to help.

The man who has a conscience suffers whilst acknowledging his sin. That is his punishment.

God has such gladness every time he sees from heaven that a sinner is praying to Him with all his heart, as a mother has when she sees the first smile on her baby's face.

Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others.