35 Delightful Quotes by Anton Chekhov

Doctors are the same as lawyers; the only difference is that lawyers merely rob you, whereas doctors rob you and kill you too.Ivanov (1887), (ed. 2002), Act I, Scene III, Page 7

The world perishes not because of murderers and thieves, but from hidden hatred, from hostility among good people, from all those petty squabbles.The Wood Demon (1889), Act II, Scena V

One must be a god to be able to tell successes from failures without making a mistake.Letter to Aleksei Sergeyevich Suvorin (November 3, 1888)

Good breeding is shown, not by not upsetting the sauce, but by not noticing it when somebody else does.An Artist's Story or The House with the Mezzanine (1896)

When a lot of different remedies are suggested for a disease, that means it can’t be cured.The Cherry Orchard (1904), (ed. 1998), Act I, Page 255

Faith is a faculty of the spirit. It is just the same as a talent, one must be born with it.On the Road (1886)

When an actor has money, he doesn’t send letters but telegrams.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 78

Money, like vodka, does strange things to a man.Gooseberries (1898)

If you wish to have little spare time, do nothing.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 70

Children are holy and pure. Even those of bandits and crocodiles belong among the angels. Whatever pit we may be crawling into, we must surround them with an atmosphere befitting their rank. They must not be turned into a plaything of one’s mood, first to be tenderly kissed, then rabidly stomped at.Letter to Alexander Pavlovich Chekhov (January 2, 1889)

It is difficult to understand the human soul, but it is still more difficult to understand one’s own soul.The Shooting Party (1884), (ed. 1926), Chapter XV, Page 124

There are a great many opinions in the world, and a good half of them are held by people who have never been in trouble!A Misfortune (1886)

You must trust people, or life becomes impossible.Uncle Vanya (1898), (ed. 1912), Act II, Page 41

Life does not agree with philosophy: there is no happiness which is not idleness and only the useless is pleasurable.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 26

Life must be studied not from the pluses alone, but from the minuses too.Letter to Aleksei Sergeyevich Suvorin (December 23, 1888)

If you are afraid of loneliness, don’t marry.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 84

Love, friendship, respect do not unite people as much as common hatred for something.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 32

People who lead a solitary existence always have something in their hearts which they are eager to talk about.About Love (1898)

A woman can only become a man’s friend after having first been his acquaintance and then his beloved – then she becomes his friend.Uncle Vanya (1898), (ed. 1912), Act II, Page 35

No one wants to love the ordinary people in us.Letter to Aleksei Sergeyevich Suvorin (November 24 or 25, 1888)

People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.Three Sisters (1901), (ed. 1998), Act II, Page 199

The more refined the more unhappy.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 26

The happy man only feels at ease because the unhappy bear their burdens in silence, and without that silence happiness would be impossible.Gooseberries (1898)

At the door of every happy person there should be a man with a hammer whose knock would serve as a constant reminder of the existence of unfortunate people.Gooseberries (1898)

If you want to be healthy and normal, go to the common herd.The Black Monk (1894)

Although you may tell lies, people will believe you, if only you speak with authority.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 85

It is easier to ask of the poor than of the rich.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 33

Hundreds of miles of desolate, monotonous, burnt-up steppe cannot induce such deep depression as one man when he sits and talks, and one does not know when he will go.An Artist's Story or The House with the Mezzanine (1896)

Man will only become better when you make him see what he is like.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 94

Lice consume the grass, rust consumes the iron, and lying the soul.My Life (1896)

Better to perish from fools than to accept praises from them.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 82

There is no Monday which will not give its place to Tuesday.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 140

The University brings out all abilities, including stupidity.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 53

When one longs for a drink, it seems as though one could drink a whole ocean – that is faith; but when one begins to drink, one can only drink altogether two glasses – that is science.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 104

There is no national science, just as there is no national multiplication table; what is national is no longer science.Note-book of Anton Chekhov (ed. 1921), Page 18

Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.No source

Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.No source (More info)

Any idiot can face a crisis; it’s this day-to-day living that wears you out.No source (More info)

To fear love is to fear life, and those whose fear life are already three parts dead…Bertrand Russell (More info)