Let it not be a beautiful face,' I thought, 'but to make up for that, let it be a noble, an expressive, and, above all, an extremely intelligent one.

Is there in the whole world a being who would have the right to forgive and could forgive?

To be in love is not the same as loving. You can be in love with a woman and still hate her.

I have in my own life merely carried to the extreme that which you have never ventured to carry even halfway ; and what's more, you've regarded your cowardice as prudence, and found comfort in deceiving yourselves. So that, in fact, I may be even more "alive" than you are. Do take a closer look!

...it all, maybe, most likely, indeed, might turn out for the best.

I am told that the proximity of punishment arouses real repentance in the criminal and sometimes awakens a feeling of genuine remorse in the most hardened heart; I am told this is due to fear.

Two times two will be four even without my will. Is that what you call man's free will?