I've become convinced that every person should treat himself strictly and even rudely and distrustfully; it's difficult to tame the beast in oneself.

Anyone who has crossed from the district of Bolkhov into that of Zhizdra will probably have been struck by the sharp difference between the natives of the provinces of Orel and Kaluga.

Illness isn't the only thing that spoils the appetite.

I don't see why it's impossible to express everything that's on one's mind.

Whatever man prays for, he prays for a miracle. Every prayer reduces itself.

Nature creates while destroying, and doesn't care whether it creates or destroys as long as life isn't extinguished, as long as death doesn't lose its rights.

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