In my case there was no first love. I began with the second. Ivan Turgenev More Quotes by Ivan Turgenev More Quotes From Ivan Turgenev Only one thing bothered me: at this very moment, as they say, of inexplicable bliss there would be a sinking feeling at the pit of my stomach and my abdomen would be assailed by a melancholy, cold shivering. In the end I couldn't abide such happiness and ran away. Ivan Turgenev sinking-feeling would-be feelings Oh youth, youth! You don't worry about anything; you seem to possess all the treasures of the universe--even sorrow gives you pleasure, even grief suits you.... And perhaps the whole secret of your charm lies not in your ability to do everything, but in your ability to think that you will do everything. Ivan Turgenev grief lying thinking 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. Ivan Turgenev smart dog fall There's only one way for an individual to remain upright, not to fall to pieces, not to sink into the mire of self-oblivionorself-contempt. That's calmly to turn away from everything, to say, "Enough!" and, folding one's useless arms across one's empty breast, to retain the ultimate, the sole attainable virtue, the virtue of recognizing one's own insignificance. Ivan Turgenev pieces self fall That's what children are for—that their parents may not be bored. Ivan Turgenev bored parent children It was only the vulgarly mediocre that repelled her. Ivan Turgenev mediocre However much you knock at nature's door, she will never answer you in comprehensible words. Ivan Turgenev nature answers doors I don't see why it's impossible to express everything that's on one's mind. Ivan Turgenev mind impossible Whereas I think: I’m lying here in a haystack... The tiny space I occupy is so infinitesimal in comparison with the rest of space, which I don’t occupy and which has no relation to me. And the period of time in which I’m fated to live is so insignificant beside the eternity in which I haven’t existed and won’t exist... And yet in this atom, this mathematical point, blood is circulating, a brain is working, desiring something... What chaos! What a farce! Ivan Turgenev lying blood thinking Behind me there are already so many memories (...) Lots of memories, but no point in remembering them, and ahead of me a long, long road with nothing to aim for ... I just don't want to go along it. Ivan Turgenev want memories long Each individual is more or less dimly aware of his significance, is aware that he's something innately superior, something eternal--and lives, is obligated to live, in the moment and for the moment. Ivan Turgenev self life-is live-in-the-moment Oh, gentle feelings, soft sounds, the goodness and the gradual stilling of a soul that has been moved; the melting happiness of the first tender, touching joys of love- where are you? Ivan Turgenev touching soul joy So many memories and so little worth remembering, and in front of me - a long, long road without a goal. Ivan Turgenev goal memories long Everyone needs help from everyone else. Ivan Turgenev inspiration helping needs Death is like a fisherman, who, having caught a fish in his net, leaves it in the water for a time; the fish continues to swim about, but all the while the net is round it, and the fisherman will snatch it out in his own good time. Ivan Turgenev sea lakes rivers I agree with no one's opinion. I have some of my own. Ivan Turgenev agree my-own opinion What's terrible is that there's nothing terrible, that the very essence of life is petty, uninteresting, and degradingly trite. Ivan Turgenev alienation essence life Every man's happiness is built on the unhappi-ness of another. Ivan Turgenev built happiness men In the end, nature is inexorable: it has no reason to hurry and, sooner or later, it takes what belongs to it. Unconsciously and inflexibly obedient to its own laws, it doesn't know art, just as it doesn't know freedom, just as it doesn't know goodness. Ivan Turgenev law reason art Even nightingales can’t be fed on fairy tales. Ivan Turgenev feds tales fairy-tale
