More Quotes by Nikolai Gogol
Nothing could be more pleasant than to live in solitude, enjoy the spectacle of nature, and occasionally read some book.
Whatever you may say, the body depends on the soul.
He who has talent in him must be purer in soul than anyone else. Another will be forgiven much, but to him it will not be forgiven. A man who leaves the house in bright, festive clothes needs only one drop of mud splashed from under a wheel, and people all surround him, point their fingers at him, and talk about his slovenliness, while the same people ignore many spots on other passers-by who are wearing everyday clothes. For on everyday clothes the spots do not show.
The longer and more carefully we look at a funny story, the sadder it becomes.
However stupid a fools words may be, they are sometimes enough to confound an intelligent man.
A word aptly uttered or written cannot be cut away by an axe.
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.
In the end dreams became his life, and his whole life thereafter took a strange turn: one might say he slept while waking and watched while asleep.
Always think of what is useful and not what is beautiful. Beauty will come of its own accord.
Let me warn you, if you start chasing after views, you'll be left without bread and without views.