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When a person hasn’t in him that which is higher and stronger than all external influences, it is enough for him to catch a good cold in order to lose his equilibrium and begin to see an owl in every bird, to hear a dog’s bark in every sound.

— Anton Chekhov A Dreary Story or A Tedious Story (1889)

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More quotes by Anton Chekhov

People should be beautiful in every way—in their faces, in the way they dress, in their thoughts and in their innermost selves.

Uncle Vanya (1897)

It’s not a matter of old or new forms; a person writes without thinking about any forms, he writes because it flows freely from his soul.

The Seagull (1896)

A woman can only become a man’s friend in three stages: first, she’s an agreeable acquaintance, then a mistress, and only after that a friend.

Uncle Vanya (1897)

How easy it is, Doctor, to be a philosopher on paper, and how hard it is in life!

The Seagull (1896)

There should be more sincerity and heart in human relations, more silence and simplicity in our interactions. Be rude when you’re angry, laugh when something is funny, and answer when you’re asked.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Anton Chekhov (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.