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
Equality lies only in human moral dignity. ... Let there be brothers first, then there will be brotherhood, and only then will there be a fair sharing of goods among brothers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True equality comes from recognizing shared human dignity, leading to genuine relationships and fair distribution of resources.
This quote highlights the importance of moral dignity among individuals as the foundation for equality. Dostoevsky emphasizes that only by fostering genuine connections as 'brothers' can society achieve a true sense of brotherhood, which is essential for the equitable sharing of resources and opportunities among all members.
Themes
EqualityBrotherhoodMoral DignityFairnessHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about social justice to emphasize the importance of recognizing shared dignity.
More from Fyodor Dostoevsky
All quotes →What if, when this fog scatters and flies upward, the whole rotten, slimey city goes with it, rises with the fog and vanishes like smoke.
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Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled.
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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.
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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
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