Anton Chekhov

Playwright, short story writer

Modern influential 48 sayings

Sayings by Anton Chekhov

Perhaps the most interesting of all things is the human mind.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
Controversial Unverifiable

There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what is right.

c. 1890s — From a letter
Controversial Unverifiable

Happiness is not in money, but in the process of making it.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
Controversial Unverifiable

The aim of fiction is to show what man is like, not to teach him what he ought to be.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
Controversial Unverifiable

Everything on earth is beautiful, everything — except what we ourselves think and do when we forget the higher purposes of life and our own human dignity.

1899 — From the play, 'Uncle Vanya'
Controversial Unverifiable

It's not enough to be happy, you must be a good person.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
Controversial Unverifiable

Without work, all life is a putrefaction.

1892 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
Controversial Unverifiable

The more refined and subtle one's mind, the more deeply one suffers.

1899 — From the short story, 'A Lady with a Dog'
Controversial Unverifiable

The artist must not be a judge of his characters and their conversations, but only an unbiased witness.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
Controversial Unverifiable

Man is a creature that can get used to anything.

1904 — From the play, 'The Cherry Orchard'
Controversial Unverifiable

To gain the respect of others, you must first respect yourself.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
Controversial Unverifiable

It is not a question of pessimism or optimism, but of being a good doctor.

1892 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
Controversial Unverifiable

The artist's task is not to solve the problem, but to state the problem correctly.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
Controversial Unverifiable

There is nothing new under the sun.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
Controversial Unverifiable

We shall die, and they will bury us, and people will forget us. But we shall leave behind us our children, our thoughts, our work.

1901 — From the play, 'The Three Sisters'
Controversial Unverifiable

The aim of art is to represent life in its forms and colors.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
Controversial Unverifiable

Only during hard work can the soul be at rest.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
Controversial Unverifiable

The common people love to be amused.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
Controversial Unverifiable

It is not the business of the artist to solve problems, but to present them clearly.

1888 — Letter to A.S. Suvorin
Controversial Unverifiable

What is the purpose of art? To prepare for death, to make us live better.

c. 1890s — Notebooks
Controversial Unverifiable