Nikolai Gogol Quotes

A collection of quotes by Nikolai Gogol.

Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852) was a renowned Russian writer and dramatist. Born in a small Ukrainian village, Gogol displayed a talent for storytelling from a young age. He moved to Saint Petersburg in 1828, where he immersed himself in the city's literary circles and began his writing career.

Gogol's works often revolve around the lives of ordinary people, offering profound social critiques mixed with elements of satire and absurdity. His debut collection of short stories, "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka," published in 1831, brought him critical acclaim and marked the beginning of his literary success.

In 1836, Gogol released what would become his most famous work, "Dead Souls," a satirical novel exploring the flaws and absurdities of Russian society. The publication of the first part was widely celebrated, although Gogol would never complete the planned sequel.

Disillusioned with the literary world and struggling with personal demons, Gogol embarked on a religious journey, eventually adopting a more spiritual perspective. This shift influenced his later works, such as the play "The Inspector General," which tackles themes of corruption and moral decay.

Despite his significant contributions to Russian literature, Gogol's life was plagued by depression and self-doubt. He passed away in 1852 at the age of 42, leaving behind a legacy that profoundly impacted subsequent generations of Russian writers. Gogol's unique blend of realism and satire, coupled with his penetrating social observations, solidified his place as one of Russia's greatest literary figures.

Like all of us sinners, General Betrishchev was endowed with

Like all of us sinners, General Betrishchev was endowed with many virtues and many defects. Both the one and the other were scattered through him in a sort of picturesque disorder. Self-sacrifice, magnanimity in decisive moments, courage, intelligence--and with all that, a generous mixture of self-love, ambition, vanity, petty personal ticklishness, and a good many of those things which a man simply cannot do without.

Nikolai Gogol

Truth

But there is nothing enduring in the world, and therefore ev

But there is nothing enduring in the world, and therefore even joy in the second minute is already not as acute as in the first; in the third minute it becomes still weaker and finally merges unnoticeably with the usual condition of the soul, as a circle on the water, caused by the fall of a pebble, finally merges with the smooth surface.

Nikolai Gogol

Life Time Happiness Sadness Joy

Always think of what is useful and not what is beautiful. Be

Always think of what is useful and not what is beautiful. Beauty will come of its own accord.

Nikolai Gogol

Beauty

We ought to thank God for that. Yes, the man who tills the l

We ought to thank God for that. Yes, the man who tills the land is more worthy of respect than any.

Nikolai Gogol

Respect