Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
The cleverest of all, in my opinion, is the man who calls himself a fool at least once a month.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Self-awareness is a sign of intelligence, as acknowledging one's own limitations and mistakes can lead to growth.
This quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky highlights the importance of humility and self-awareness. By admitting one's own foolishness, even if only occasionally, a person demonstrates not only intelligence but also a willingness to learn and grow from their experiences. It suggests that wisdom comes from recognizing our own flaws and the complexities of our thoughts and actions, promoting personal development and deeper understanding.
Themes
WisdomSelf-AwarenessHumilityGrowthIntelligence
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to encourage personal development.
More from Fyodor Dostoevsky
All quotes βWhat if, when this fog scatters and flies upward, the whole rotten, slimey city goes with it, rises with the fog and vanishes like smoke.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
But do you understand, I cry to him, do you understand that if you have the guillotine in the forefront, and with such glee, it's for the sole reason that cutting heads off is the easiest thing, and having an idea is difficult!
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
...to return to their 'native soil,' as they say, to the bosom, so to speak, of their mother earth, like frightened children, yearning to fall asleep on the withered bosom of their decrepit mother, and to sleep there for ever, only to escape the horrors that terrify them.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Similar quotes
You, and you alone, get to determine whether you are going to react positively about something or negatively about something - or, interestingly, have no reaction at all. Your emotions are entirely under your control. Your feelings are what you want them to be.
Neale Donald WalschRead
We all have our routines," he said softly."But they must have a purpose and provide an outcome that we can see and take some comfort from, or else they have no use at all. Without that, they are like the endless pacings of a caged animal. If they are not madness itself, then they are a prelude to it.
John ConnollyRead
The Yesees said yes to anything That anyone suggested. The Noees said no to everything Unless it was proven and tested. So the Yesees all died of much too much And the Noees all died of fright, But somehow I think the Thinkforyourselfees All came out all right.
Shel SilversteinRead
Job never saw why he suffered, but he saw God, and that was enough.
Timothy KellerRead
The truth comes as conqueror only because we have lost the art of receiving it as guest.
Rabindranath TagoreRead
A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it.
Rabindranath TagoreRead