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
Twice two makes four seems to me simply a piece of insolence. Twice two makes four is a pert coxcomb who stands with arms akimbo barring your path and spitting. I admit that twice two makes four is an excellent thing, but if we are to give everything its due, twice two makes five is sometimes a very charming thing too.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that strict adherence to facts can be limiting and that sometimes embracing broader interpretations can be valuable.
Dostoevsky's quote challenges the rigidity of absolute truths, such as the mathematical certainty of 'twice two makes four.' He personifies this certainty as a hindrance to creativity and perspective, acknowledging that while objective truths hold their value, subjective interpretations can enrich our understanding and experiences, as demonstrated by the playful notion that 'twice two makes five' can be charming in its own right.
Themes
TruthPerspectiveCreativitySubjectivityInterpretation
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophical debate, one might use this quote to argue about the nature of truth.
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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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