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My own experience is that once a story has been written, one has to cross out the beginning and the end. It is there that we authors do most of our lying.

Anton Chekhov

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Anton Chekhov
Age: 44 †
Born: 1860
Born: January 1
Died: 1904
Died: January 1
Author
Dramaturge
Journalist
Novelist
Physician
Playwright
Prosaist
Satirist
Writer
Tahanroh
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
Antón Pávlovič Čéhov
Antón Pávlovich Chékhov
Chekhov
Writing
Crosses
Beginning
Written
Lying
Story
Experience
Ends
Authors
Stories
Cross

More quotes by Anton Chekhov

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For the salvation of his soul the Muslim digs a well. It would be a fine thing if each of us were to leave behind a school, or a well, or something of the sort, so that life would not pass by and retreat into eternity without a trace.
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A woman is fascinated not by art but by the noise made by those in the field.
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In displaying the psychology of your characters, minute particulars are essential. God save us from vague generalizations! Be sure not to discuss your hero's state of mind. Make it clear from his actions. Nor is it necessary to portray many main characters. Let two people be the center of gravity in your story: he and she.
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If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it's not going to be fired, it shouldn't be hanging there.
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The more cultured a man, the less fortunate he is.
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That can not possibly be, because it could never possibly be.
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My holy of holies is the human body.
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He who desires nothing, hopes for nothing, and is afraid of nothing, cannot be an artist.
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An expansive life, one not constrained by four walls, requires as well an expansive pocket.
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It's easier to ask for money from the poor than from the wealthy.
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I've noticed that people who get married cease to be curious.
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When asked, Why do you always wear black?, he said, I am mourning for my life.
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If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there.
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The stupider the peasant, the better the horse understands him.
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In descriptions of nature one must seize on small details, grouping them so that when the reader closes his eyes he gets a picture.
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The secret of boring people lies in telling them everything.
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All the great sages are as despotic as generals, and as ignorant and as indelicate as generals, because they feel secure of impunity.
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Eyes - the head's chief of police. They watch and make mental notes.
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The bourgeoisie is very fond of so-called practical types and novels with happy endings, since they soothe it with the idea that one can both accumulate capital and preserve innocence, be a beast and at the same time be happy...
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There is no national science, just as there is no national multiplication table what is national is no longer science.
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