I must say, though, that a man who has staked his whole life on the card of a woman's love and who, when that card is trumped, falls to pieces and lets himself go to the dogs -- a fellow like that is not a man, not a male. You say he's unhappy -- you know best. But all the nonsense hasn't been taken out of him yet. I'm sure he really believes he's a smart fellow just because he reads that rag Galignani and saves a muzhik from a flogging once a month.

No matter how often you knock at nature's door, she won't answer in words you can understand--for Nature is dumb. She'll vibrate and moan like a violin, but you mustn't expect a song.

Go and try to disprove death. Death will disprove you, and that's all!

I do not know what the heart of a bad man is like. But i do know what the heart of a good man is like. And it is terrible.

Death's an old joke, but each individual encounters it anew.

There are some moments in life, some feelings; one can only point to them and pass by.

It was only the vulgarly mediocre that repelled her.