Brothers Karamazov QuotesSearcheable Database of Quotes
| Speaker: | Fyodor, K. | | Subject: | Hell, Punishment | | Source: | I, iv, end | | Quote: | I can believe in hell without a ceiling. But if there is no ceiling then there can be no hooks, and without hooks it all breaks down. |  |
| Speaker: | Narrator on Alyosha | | Subject: | Faith Realism | | Source: | I, v. beg. | | Quote: | A. is a realist. Faith, in the realist, does not spring from the miracle. But the miracle from faith | | |
| Speaker: | Zosima on Fyodor | | Subject: | Guikt, Lying | | Source: | II, ii, end | | Quote: | The source of the buffoonery is his shame at himself. Lying to oneself causes loss of respect for oneself, which leads to coarse passions. Lying to oneself makes you easily offended, even to the point of taking pleasure at the offense. | | |
| Speaker: | Zosima to grieving Peasant Woman | | Subject: | Suffering and Renewal | | Source: | II iii mid | | Quote: | Be not comforted. Consolation is not what you need. Weep and be not consoled, but weep. . . . But it will turn in the end into quiet joy, and your bitter tears will be only tears of tender sorrow that purifies the heart and delivers it from sin.
Love such a treasure that it can redeem not only your own sins but the sins of others.
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| Speaker: | Zosima to Madame K. | | Subject: | Faith and Love | | Source: | II iv mid | | Quote: | By the experience of active love. Strive to love your neighbour actively and indefatigably. In as far as you advance in love you will grow surer of the reality of God and of the immortality of your soul. If you attain to perfect self-forgetfulness in the love of your neighbour, then you will believe without doubt, and no doubt can possibly enter your soul. This has been tried. This is certain."
It is hard to love particular humans and not just humanity in general.
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| Speaker: | Ivan K. | | Subject: | Church and State | | Source: | II v mid | | Quote: |
The state should be transformed into the church, for only
the church can be a basis for law
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| Speaker: | Ivan K. | | Subject: | God and Morality | | Source: | II vi mid | | Quote: | Without God and immortality, all things are permitted. | | |
| Speaker: | Zosima to Ivan K. | | Subject: | Faith | | Source: | II vi mid | | Quote: |
If the question of God cannot be answered in the
affirmative, it will never be answered in the negative. This is the peculiarity
of your heart, to which all of your sufferings are due.
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| Speaker: | Zosima to Alyosha. | | Subject: | Suffering and Renewal | | Source: | II vii beg. | | Quote: | In sorrow seek happiness. Work unceasingly. | | |
| Speaker: | Rakitin to Alyosha. | | Subject: | God and Morality | | Source: | II vii mid. | | Quote: | His whole theory is a fraud! Humanity will find in itself the power to live for virtue even without believing in immortality. It will find it in love for freedom, for equality, for fraternity. | | |
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