I am beginning to be amazed at the unfairness of people; why do they not respond to love with love, and why should truth be answered with lies? p. 40 Anna Petrovna
At twenty we are all heroes, we undertake anything, we can do anything, but by thirty we are exhausted and good for nothing. p. 74
Once I began singing like that and the Assistant Prosecutor said to me: "You have a strong voice, Your Excellency." Then he thought a moment and added: "Strong, but revolting." -Sevin, p.110-111
A woman can become a man's friend only in this sequence: first an acquaintance, then a mistress, and then a friend. —Astrov, p.194
You're not insane, you're just a crackpot. A clown. There was a time when I regarded every crackpot as sick, abnormal; but now I am of the opinion that it's the normal state of man--to be a crackpot. You're perfectly normal. p.222 Astrov