Quote

In nature a repulsive caterpillar turns into a lovely butterfly. But with human beings it is the other way round: a lovely butterfly turns into a repulsive caterpillar.

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
Humans
Butterfly
Way
Round
Rounds
Lovely
Beings
Turns
Caterpillar
Nature
Repulsive
Human
Caterpillars

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The sea has neither meaning nor pity.
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I don't like being successful the subjects which sit in my head are annoyed and jealous of what has already been written.
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One can prove or refute anything at all with words. Soon people will perfect language technology to such an extent that they'll be proving with mathematical precision that twice two is seven.
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In short stories it is better to say not enough than to say too much, because, because--I don't know why.
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I observed that after marriage people cease to be curious.
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That can not possibly be, because it could never possibly be.
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I long to embrace, to include in my own short life, all that is accessible to man. I long to speak, to read, to wield a hammer in a great factory, to keep watch at sea, to plow. I want to be walking along the Nevsky Prospect, or in the open fields, or on the ocean - wherever my imagination ranges.
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[Six principles that make for a good story:] 1. Absence of lengthy verbiage of a political-social-economic nature 2. total objectivity 3. truthful descriptions of persons and objects 4. extreme brevity 5. audacity and originality: flee the stereotype 6. compassion.
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A litterateur is not a confectioner, not a dealer in cosmetics, not an entertainer. . . . He is just like an ordinary reporter. What would you say if a newspaper reporter, because of his fastidiousness or from a wish to give pleasure to his readers, were to describe only honest mayors, high-minded ladies, and virtuous railroad contractors.
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To believe in God is not hard. Inquisitors, Byron and Arakcheev believed in Him. No, believe in man!
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Write only of what is important and eternal.
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Art, especially the stage, is an area where it is impossible to walk without stumbling. There are in store for you many unsuccessful days and whole unsuccessful seasons: there will be great misunderstandings and deep disappointments… you must be prepared for all this, expect it and nevertheless, stubbornly, fanatically follow your own way.
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People are far more sincere and good-humored at speeding their parting guests than on meeting them.
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It always seems to the brothers and the father that their brother or son didn't marry the right person.
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If many remedies are prescribed for an illness you can be sure it has no cure
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To dine, drink champagne, raise a racket and make speeches about the people's consciousness, the people's conscience, freedom andso forth while servants in tails are scurrying around your table, just like serfs, and out in the severe cold on the street await coachmen--this is the same as lying to the holy spirit.
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He is an emancipated thinker who is not afraid to write foolish things.
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What's the use of talking? You can see for yourself that this is a barbarous country the people have no morals and the boredom!
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