Great God, grant that twice two be not four.

The fact is that previously they were simply dunces and now they've suddenly become nihilists.

What a magnificent body, how I should like to see it on the dissecting table.

One may speak about anything on earth with fire, with enthusiasm, with ecstasy, but one only speaks about oneself with avidity.

What's important is that twice two is four and all the rest's nonsense.

Ah, but in time the heat of noontide passes, and to it there succeed nightfall and dusk, with a return to the quiet fold where for the weary an the heavy-laden there waits sleep, sweet sleep.

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.