Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
One must be a great man indeed to be able to hold out even against common sense." "Or else a fool.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that to resist widely accepted beliefs requires great intelligence or, conversely, it may indicate foolishness.
In this quote, Dostoevsky highlights the tension between individual insight and societal norms. It points out that truly great thinkers can challenge prevailing common sense, demonstrating exceptional intellectual capacity. However, it also leaves room for doubt, implying that sometimes such resistance may stem from a lack of understanding, marking the line between wisdom and folly.
Themes
Common SenseWisdomFoolishnessIntellectResistance
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about innovative thinkers who challenge societal beliefs.
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But do you understand, I cry to him, do you understand that if you have the guillotine in the forefront, and with such glee, it's for the sole reason that cutting heads off is the easiest thing, and having an idea is difficult!
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...to return to their 'native soil,' as they say, to the bosom, so to speak, of their mother earth, like frightened children, yearning to fall asleep on the withered bosom of their decrepit mother, and to sleep there for ever, only to escape the horrors that terrify them.
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