Isolation in creative work is an onerous thing. Better to have negative criticism than nothing at all. Anton Chekhov More Quotes by Anton Chekhov More Quotes From Anton Chekhov The sea has neither meaning nor pity. Anton Chekhov pity sea The more cultured a man, the less fortunate he is. Anton Chekhov education men culture One must speak about serious things seriously. Anton Chekhov serious-things serious ideas I am not a liberal, not a conservative, not a believer in gradual progress, not a monk. I should like to be a free artist and nothing more. Anton Chekhov progress freedom artist Life does not agree with philosophy: There is no happiness that is not idleness, and only what is useless is pleasurable. Anton Chekhov useless doe philosophy When performing an autopsy, even the most inveterate spiritualist would have to question where the soul is. Anton Chekhov medicine soul death The wealthy are always surrounded by hangers-on; science and art are as well. Anton Chekhov wealthy wells art Life has gone by as if I never lived Anton Chekhov ifs gone To judge between good or bad, between successful and unsuccessful would take the eye of a God. Anton Chekhov eye successful judging I am writing a play which I probably will not finish until the end of November. I am writing it with considerable pleasure, though I sin frightfully against the conventions of the stage. It is a comedy with three female parts, six male, four acts, a landscape (view of the lake), lots of talk on literature, little action and tons of love. Anton Chekhov lakes writing love The time has come for writers, especially those who are artists, to admit that in this world one cannot make anything out, just as Socrates once admitted it, just as Voltaire admitted it. Anton Chekhov artist justice time And what does it mean -- dying? Perhaps man has a hundred senses, and only the five we know are lost at death, while the other ninety-five remain alive. Anton Chekhov dying men mean Probably nature itself gave man the ability to lie so that in difficult and tense moments he could protect his nest, just as do the vixen and wild duck. Anton Chekhov ducks men lying Just as I shall lie alone in the grave, so, in essence, do I live alone. Anton Chekhov graves essence lying It's better to live down a scandal than to ruin one's life. Anton Chekhov ruins scandal It's worth living abroad to study up on genteel and delicate manners. The maid smiles continuously; she smiles like a duchess on a stage, while at the same time it is clear from her face that she is exhausted from overwork. Anton Chekhov maids exhausted faces A grimy fly can soil the entire wall and a small, dirty little act can ruin the entire proceedings. Anton Chekhov ruins wall dirty It seems to me that all of the evil in life comes from idleness, boredom, and psychic emptiness, but all of that is inevitable when you become accustomed to living at others' expense. Anton Chekhov boredom psychics evil A naive man is nothing better than a fool. But you women contrive to be naive in such a way that in you it seems sweet, and gentle, and proper, and not as silly as it really is. Anton Chekhov silly sweet men If only one tooth aches, rejoice that not all of them ache.... If your wife betrays you, be glad that she betrayed only you and not the nation. Anton Chekhov teeth betrayed wife
