The soul is healed by being with children
— The Idiot
Prince Myshkin reflects on the virtues of children in St. Petersburg.
Historical Figure
Fyodor Dostoyevsky Quotes
Russian novelist exploring human psychology and spiritual depth
10 Curated Quotes
The second half of a man's life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half
— The Crocodile
Dostoyevsky suggests the long-lasting power and influence of habits cultivated in youth.
What is hell? I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.
— The Brothers Karamazov
Ivan Karamazov's philosophical musings in Part IV, Book XI.
I am a realist in a higher sense; that is, I affirm the reality of that which is spiritual, mystical, and which we know in consciousness
— Demons, Part 2, Chapter 1
Dostoyevsky often explored the dimensions of faith and consciousness as it relates to reality.
Man is sometimes extraordinarily, passionately, in love with suffering
— Notes from Underground
The Underground Man's paradoxical analysis in Part I.
It is not the brains that matter most, but that which guides them — the character, the heart, generous qualities, progressive ideas
— The Insulted and Humiliated
This quote touches on the importance of morality and character over mere intellectual capability.
There is immeasurably more left inside than what comes out in words
— Notebooks for Crime and Punishment
Reflects Dostoyevsky's belief in the depth of human emotion and thought that words can rarely fully capture.
Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most
— Crime and Punishment
Raskolnikov's reflection on societal fears in Part I, Chapter 1.
The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for
— The Brothers Karamazov
Zosima's teachings on the purpose of life in Part II, Book VI.
Reason is the slave of passion for all men without exception
— A Writer's Diary
Dostoyevsky discusses the dominance of human emotions over logic, a recurring theme in his writings.