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
I think that if one is faced by inevitable destruction -- if a house is falling upon you, for instance -- one must feel a great longing to sit down, close one's eyes and wait, come what may . . .
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a human response to unavoidable disaster, emphasizing a desire for acceptance in the face of fate.
In this quote, Fyodor Dostoevsky explores the concept of resignation in the face of inevitable destruction. When confronted with situations beyond our control, such as an impending disaster symbolized by a collapsing house, there is a deep-seated urge to surrender to fate, suggesting that sometimes passivity and acceptance can be a natural human response to overwhelming circumstances.
Themes
DestructionFateAcceptanceResignationInevitability
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about overcoming adversity, one might use this quote to illustrate the struggle of facing insurmountable challenges.
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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!
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...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.
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