Knowledge is real knowledge only when it is acquired by the efforts of your intellect, not by memory

One can often hear from the young people:" I do not want to live according to others` mind. I can think of it myself. " Why should one think of something, when it is already thought about. Take it and go farther, this is the strength of the mankind.

With one hand I take thousands of rubles from the poor, and with the other I hand back a few kopecks.

Man must not check his reason by tradition, but, contrariwise, must check tradition by reason.

To say that you can love one person all your life is just like saying that one candle will continue burning as long as you live.

A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor — such is my idea of happiness.

The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity by contributing to the establishment of the kingdom of God, which can only be done by the recognition and profession of the truth by every man.