Anton Chekhov Quotes

A collection of quotes by Anton Chekhov.

Anton Chekhov was a renowned Russian playwright and short story writer, born on January 29, 1860, in Taganrog, Russia. He is considered one of the greatest writers in the history of Russian literature. Chekhov started his literary career as a humorist and satirist, publishing his first story in a local newspaper at the age of 18.

After studying medicine at the University of Moscow, Chekhov pursued a successful dual career as a physician and a writer. While practicing medicine to support his family financially, he continued to write and achieved widespread recognition for his plays and short stories. His works, such as "The Seagull," "Uncle Vanya," and "The Cherry Orchard," have become classics of world drama.

Chekhov's writing style was characterized by a unique blend of realism and a deep understanding of the human condition. His stories often depicted the complexities of everyday life and offered profound insights into the human soul. With his astute observations and subtle portrayal of characters, Chekhov captured the nuances of human behavior, earning him acclaim for his psychological depth and his ability to find beauty in ordinary moments.

Sadly, Chekhov's life was cut short when he passed away from tuberculosis on July 15, 1904, at the age of 44. Nevertheless, his works continue to be celebrated and studied to this day, leaving behind a lasting legacy of literary genius.

The sea has neither meaning nor pity.

The sea has neither meaning nor pity.

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of ligh

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.

There are in life such confluences of circumstances that ren

There are in life such confluences of circumstances that render the reproach that we are not Voltaires most inopportune.

A good upbringing means not that you won't spill sauce on th

A good upbringing means not that you won't spill sauce on the tablecloth, but that you won't notice it when someone else does.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that we

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

Doctors are just the same as lawyers the only difference is

Doctors are just the same as lawyers the only difference is that lawyers merely rob you, whereas doctors rob you and kill you too.

Medicine is my lawful wife and literature my mistress; when

Medicine is my lawful wife and literature my mistress; when I get tired of one, I spend the night with the other.

When an actor has money, he doesn't send letters, but telegr

When an actor has money, he doesn't send letters, but telegrams.

Life does not agree with philosophy: There is no happiness t

Life does not agree with philosophy: There is no happiness that is not idleness, and only what is useless is pleasurable.

LUBOV. I'm quite sure there wasn't anything at all funny. Yo

LUBOV. I'm quite sure there wasn't anything at all funny. You oughtn't to go and see plays, you ought to go and look at yourself. What a grey life you lead, what a lot you talk unnecessarily.

Life True Russian

Prudence and justice tell me that in electricity and steam t

Prudence and justice tell me that in electricity and steam there is more love for man than in chastity and abstinence from meat.

People love talking of their diseases, although they are the

People love talking of their diseases, although they are the most uninteresting things in their lives.

Silence accompanies the most significant expressions of happ

Silence accompanies the most significant expressions of happiness and unhappiness: those in love understand one another best when silent, while the most heated and impassioned speech at a graveside touches only outsiders, but seems cold and inconsequential to the widow and children of the deceased.

Happiness Love Silence

Science and art,... they seek the truth and the meaning of l

Science and art,... they seek the truth and the meaning of life, they seek God, [and] the soul, and when they are harnessed to passing needs and activities,... then they only complicate and encumber life.

My holy of holies is the human body, health, intelligence, t

My holy of holies is the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and the most absolute freedom imaginable, freedom from violence and lies, no matter what form the latter two take. Such is the program I would adhere to if I were a major artist.

Health Love Intelligence Talent Inspiration

There is no national science, just as there is no national m

There is no national science, just as there is no national multiplication table; what is national is no longer science.

Thought and beauty, like a hurricane or waves, should not kn

Thought and beauty, like a hurricane or waves, should not know conventional, delimited forms.

Do you know when you may concede your insignificance? Before

Do you know when you may concede your insignificance? Before God or, perhaps, before the intellect, beauty, or nature, but not before people. Among people, one must be conscious of one's dignity.

Nature Beauty People

You have lost your reason and taken the wrong path. You have

You have lost your reason and taken the wrong path. You have taken lies for truth, and hideousness for beauty. You would marvel if, owing to strange events of some sorts, frogs and lizards suddenly grew on apple and orange trees instead of fruit, or if roses began to smell like a sweating horse; so I marvel at you who exchange heaven for earth. I don't want to understand you.

Wisdom Life Truth Beauty Heaven Reason Earth Understand

He is no longer a city dweller who has even once in his life

He is no longer a city dweller who has even once in his life caught a ruff or seen how, on clear and cool autumn days, flocks of migrating thrushes drift over a village. Until his death he will be drawn to freedom.