HELENA. What a fine day! Not too hot. [A pause.]VOLTS. A fine day to hang oneself.

— Anton Chekhov

His reading suggested a man swimming in the sea among the wreckage of his ship, and trying to save his life by greedily clutching first at one spar and then at another.

— Anton Chekhov

If Iona's heart were to burst and his misery to flow out, it would flood the whole world, it seems, but yet it is not seen. It has found a hiding-place in such an insignificant shell that one would not have found it with a candle by daylight....

— Anton Chekhov

If Maker Danish was just a clerk or a junior manager, then no one would have dared talk to him in such a condescending, casual tone, but he is a 'writer', and a talentless media

— Anton Chekhov

If Maker Danish was just a clerk or a junior manager, then no one would have dared talk to him in such a condescending, casual tone, but he is a 'writer', and a talentless mediocrity! Returned a bad story to Maker recently is known to the whole district and has provoked mockery, long conversations and indignation, while Maker Danish is already being referred to as old Malarkey. If someone does not write the way required, they never try to explain what is wrong, but just say: 'That bastard has gone and written another load of rubbish!

— Anton Chekhov

If only you would go to the university," he said. "Only enlightened and holy people are interesting, it's only they who are wanted. The more of such people there are, the sooner the Kingdom of God will come on earth. Of your town then not one stone will be left, everything will be has blown up from the foundations, everything will be changed as though by magic. And then there will be immense, magnificent houses here, wonderful gardens, marvelous fountains, remarkable people.... But that's not what matters most. What matters most is that the crowd, in our sense of the word, in the sense in which it exists now -- that evil will not exist then, because every man will believe and every man will know what he is living for and no one will seek moral support in the crowd. Dear Nadya, darling girl, go away! Show them all that you are sick of this stagnant, gray, sinful life. Prove it to yourself at least!

— Anton Chekhov

If you cry "Forward" you must make plain in what direction to go.

— Anton Chekhov

If you want to work on your acting, work on yourself.

— Anton Chekhov

I have no will of my own. Never did. Limp and lily-livered, I always obey - is it possible that's attractive to women?

— Anton Chekhov

I long to embrace, to include in my own short life, all that is accessible to man.

— Anton Chekhov