What must human beings be, to destroy what they can never create? Anton Chekhov More Quotes by Anton Chekhov More Quotes From Anton Chekhov When one sees one of the romantic creatures before him he imagines he is looking at some holy being, so wonderful that its one breath could dissolve him in a sea of a thousand charms and delights; but if one looks into the soul -- it's nothing but a common crocodile. Anton Chekhov womensoulsea It always seems to the brothers and the father that their brother or son didn't marry the right person. Anton Chekhov sisterbrotherfather When you describe the miserable and unfortunate, and want to make the reader feel pity, try to be somewhat colder - that seems to give a kind of background to another's grief, against which it stands out more clearly. Whereas in your story the characters cry and you sigh. Yes, be more cold. ... The more objective you are, the stronger will be the impression you make. Anton Chekhov griefkindnesscharacter While you're playing cards with a regular guy or having a bite to eat with him, he seems a peaceable, good-humoured and not entirely dense person. But just begin a conversation with him about something inedible, politics or science, for instance, and he ends up in a deadend or starts in on such an obtuse and base philosophy that you can only wave your hand and leave. Anton Chekhov guyphilosophyhands Death is terrifying, but it would be even more terrifying to find out that you are going to live forever and never die. Anton Chekhov foreverlifedeath Only one who loves can remember so well. Anton Chekhov wellsremember When a woman isn't beautiful, people always say, 'You have lovely eyes, you have lovely hair.' Anton Chekhov eyehairbeautiful ..when one has no real life, one lives by mirages. It's still better than nothing. Anton Chekhov mirageslive-byreal It's very hard, feeling that you're no more than a piece of unwanted furniture in this world. Anton Chekhov piecesfeelingsworld Life is a vexatious trap; when a thinking man reaches maturity and attains to full consciousness he cannot help feeling that he is in a trap from which there is no escape. Anton Chekhov maturitymenthinking The teacher must be an actor, an artist,passionately in love with his work. Anton Chekhov actorsartistteacher My holy of holies is the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and absolute freedom--freedom from violence and falsehood, no matter how the last two manifest themselves. Anton Chekhov bodyinspirationtwo The desire to serve the common good must without fail be a requisite of the soul, a necessity for personal happiness; if it issuesnot from there, but from theoretical or other considerations, it is not at all the same thing. Anton Chekhov charitysouldesire Women can't forgive failure. Anton Chekhov cant-forgiveforgiving If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it's not going to be fired, it shouldn't be hanging there. Anton Chekhov rifleswallwriting I've noticed that people who get married cease to be curious. Anton Chekhov marriagecuriositypeople A man can deceive his fiancee or his mistress as much as he likes and, in the eyes of a woman he loves, an ass may pass for a philosopher. But a daughter is a different matter. Anton Chekhov daughtereyemen I long to embrace, to include in my own short life, all that is accessible to man. I long to speak, to read, to wield a hammer in a great factory, to keep watch at sea, to plow. I want to be walking along the Nevsky Prospect, or in the open fields, or on the ocean - wherever my imagination ranges. Anton Chekhov oceanmenlife Brevity - the sister of talent. Anton Chekhov brevitytalenthuman-nature To advise is not to compel. Anton Chekhov advise
