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
What tender and devoted mother wouldn't be dismayed and ill with terror at her son's or daughter's stepping even one hair's breath off the beaten track. No, better let him be happy and live in comfort without originality, is what every mother thinks when she rocks the cradle. The only person among us who can fail to reach the general's rank is the original man - in other words, the man who won't be quiet.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the struggle between societal expectations and individual originality, particularly from a parental perspective.
Dostoevsky highlights the tension between a mother's wish for her child's comfort and happiness, which often leads to conformity, and the inherent risk associated with being an original thinker. The quote suggests that true creativity and originality may result in discomfort or failure in a conventional society, posing a challenge for both the individual and their loved ones.
Themes
OriginalitySocietyParentingComfortFailureHappinessConformity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about creativity in education, this quote can emphasize the need for nurturing originality despite societal pressures.
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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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