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
One's own free and unfettered volition, one's own caprice, however wild, one's own fancy, inflamed sometimes to the point of madness - that is the one best and greatest good, which is never taken into consideration because it cannot fit into any classification and the omission of which sends all systems and theories to the devil.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and personal choice, suggesting that these elements are often overlooked in existing systems and theories.
In this quote, Dostoevsky highlights the value of personal autonomy and the chaotic nature of human desire, arguing that true fulfillment comes from embracing one's own will, regardless of societal norms or classifications. He suggests that such personal freedom, often dismissed by structured theories, is foundational to understanding human existence, even if it leads to unpredictable or irrational outcomes.
Themes
FreedomChoiceIndividualityAutonomyMadness
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about pursuing one's passions.
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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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