Mitya Quotes

“Jealous men forgive sooner than anyone else, and all women know it. The jealous man (having first made a terrible scene, of course) can and will very promptly forgive, for example, a nearly proven betrayal, the embraces and kisses he has seen himself, if, for example, at the same time he can somehow be convinced that this was 'the last time' and that his rival will disappear from that moment on . . . Of course the reconciliation will only last an hour, because even if the rival has indeed disappeared, tomorrow he will invent another, a new one, and become jealous of this new one. And one may ask what is the good of a love that must constantly be spied on, and what is the worth of a love that needs to be guarded so intensely? But that is something the truly jealous will never understand . . . It is also remarkable that these same lofty-hearted men, while standing in some sort of closet, eavesdropping and spying, though they understand clearly . . . all the shame they have gotten into of their own will, nevertheless . . . while standing in that closet, will not feel any pangs of remorse.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

“Only how is [man] going to be virtuous without God? A good question! I keep thinking about it. Because whom will he love then –– man, I mean? To whom will he be thankful, to whom will he sing the hymn?”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

“What terrible tragedies realism inflicts on people . . .”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

“Love is over, Mitya! But the past is painfully dear to me. Know that you will always be so. But now let what might have been come true for one minute. You love another woman, and I love another man, and yet I shall love you forever, and you will love me; do you know that? Do you hear? Love me, love me all your life!”
― Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov