--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had two lives: one, open, seen and…" description: "\"He had two lives: one, open, seen and known by all who cared to know, full of relative truth and of relative falsehood, exactly like the lives of his f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d26/anton-chekhov-298_acquaintance_he-had-two-lives-one-open-seen-and-known_1448771.jpg" --- # He had two lives: one, open, seen and known by all who… ![“He had two lives: one, open, seen and known by all who cared to know, full of relative truth and of relative falsehood, exactly like the lives of his friends and acquaintances; and another life running its course in secret. And through some strange, perhaps accidental, conjunction of…” quote by Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d26/anton-chekhov-298_acquaintance_he-had-two-lives-one-open-seen-and-known_1448771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d26/anton-chekhov-298_acquaintance_he-had-two-lives-one-open-seen-and-known_1448771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d26/anton-chekhov-298_acquaintance_he-had-two-lives-one-open-seen-and-known_1448771.jpg) > “He had two lives: one, open, seen and known by all who cared to know, full of relative truth and of relative falsehood, exactly like the lives of his friends and acquaintances; and another life running its course in secret. And through some strange, perhaps accidental, conjunction of circumstances, everything that was essential, of interest and of value to him, everything in which he was sincere and did not deceive himself, everything that made the kernel of his life, was hidden from other people.” [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person can lead a public life that is visible and judged, while keeping a private inner world that holds true values and authentic self. **In simple terms:** Public image vs private self Key Takeaway Recognize and honor your inner truth Themes identity authenticity dualism Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - self‑reflection - creative work - social interactions Key Concepts Self‑deception existential truth Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance external expectations with inner honesty? - What parts of yourself remain hidden and why? A Different Perspective Public perception can pressure conformity, hiding authenticity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquaintance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) [Another life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-life/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Relative truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relative-truth/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Sincere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincere/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [We have many acquaintances in life, and we quite often think these people are true friends. But friends...real friends are few. Learn to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/we-have-many-acquaintances-in-life-and-we-quite-often-think-these/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [You look boldly ahead; isn't it only that you don't see or divine anything terrible in the future; because life is still hidden from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/you-look-boldly-ahead-isn-t-it-only-that-you-don-t-see-or-divine/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“The mystical life is a hidden life. It is a life hidden in God. It flourishes best when not exposed to public scrutiny .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-rossetti/the-mystical-life-is-a-hidden-life-it-is-a-life-hidden-in-god-it/) Stephen J. Rossetti > [Life gives meaning to life. The answer to the meaning of life is hidden right there inside the question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/life-gives-meaning-to-life-the-answer-to-the-meaning-of-life-is/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-the-apostle/for-you-died-and-your-life-is-hidden-with-christ-in-god/) [Paul the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-the-apostle/) > [I see a lot of fog and a few lights. I like it when life's hidden. It gives you a chance to imagine nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-see-a-lot-of-fog-and-a-few-lights-i-like-it-when-life-s-hidden-it/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [“It’s something I never knew about her. 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Better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/but-the-girl-had-spent-long-years-being-invisible-she-d-already-had-a/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [The knowledge of secrets is a very enticing ship, a very tempting voyage, and one thinks that the highest attainment in life is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-knowledge-of-secrets-is-a-very-enticing-ship-a-very-tempting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In everybody's life there are hidden chapters which they hope may never be known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/in-everybody-s-life-there-are-hidden-chapters-which-they-hope-may/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I am sad and have given up on life but I will always keep it hidden and you will get to know when am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulaiman-shan/i-am-sad-and-have-given-up-on-life-but-i-will-always-keep-it-hidden/) Sulaiman Shan > [“Whatever is of consequence in life, is always hidden from view. What is manifest is the outer cover; what remains unmanifest is the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/whatever-is-of-consequence-in-life-is-always-hidden-from-view-what-is/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Life has it hidden forces which can you can only discover by living!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-has-it-hidden-forces-which-can-you-can-only-discover-by-living/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The richness of life is hidden until relationships are only based on love instead of ego”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianni-fresco/the-richness-of-life-is-hidden-until-relationships-are-only-based-on/) Gianni Fresco > [“Who among us does not move through life with the hidden sense, maybe even quiet desperation, that we are destined for more?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bregman/who-among-us-does-not-move-through-life-with-the-hidden-sense-maybe/) [Peter Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bregman/) ## More by Anton Chekhov > [“Using vile means to attain worthy ends makes the ends themselves vile. Let them ride on the backs of doctors and medical assistants, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/using-vile-means-to-attain-worthy-ends-makes-the-ends-themselves-vile/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [If ever my life can be of any use to you, come and claim it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/if-ever-my-life-can-be-of-any-use-to-you-come-and-claim-it/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [There are still many more days of failure ahead, whole seasons of failure, things will go terribly wrong, you will have huge disappointments ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-are-still-many-more-days-of-failure-ahead-whole-seasons-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“But here was all the timorousness and angularity of inexperienced youth, a feeling of awkwardness, and an impression of bewilderment, as if someone had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/but-here-was-all-the-timorousness-and-angularity-of-inexperienced/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“At the water's edge, barrels of pitch blazed like huge bonfires. 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They just want to wipe out the Krauts, finish, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/lebedev-france-has-a-clear-and-defined-policy-the-french-know-what/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“My holy of holies are the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and the most absolute freedom - freedom from force and falsity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/my-holy-of-holies-are-the-human-body-health-intelligence-talent/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“What we have, we do not treasure,” and what’s more we do not even love it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/what-we-have-we-do-not-treasure-and-what-s-more-we-do-not-even-love-it/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [No matter how corrupt and unjust a convict may be, he loves fairness more than anything else. If the people placed over him are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/no-matter-how-corrupt-and-unjust-a-convict-may-be-he-loves-fairness/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“It is my opinion that every woman can be a writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/it-is-my-opinion-that-every-woman-can-be-a-writer/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/his-reading-suggested-a-man-swimming-in-the-sea-among-the-wreckage-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Experience often repeated, truly bitter experience, had taught him long ago that with decent people, especially Moscow people -- always slow to move and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/experience-often-repeated-truly-bitter-experience-had-taught-him-long/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Why do you always wear black?” "I am mourning for my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/why-do-you-always-wear-black-i-am-mourning-for-my-life/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) [Explore all 679 Anton Chekhov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) ## More Acquaintance quotes > [Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any visible reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distrust-all-those-who-love-you-extremely-upon-a-very-slight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [The study of history and philosophy, accompanied by some acquaintance with art and literature, should be for lawyers and engineers as well as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/the-study-of-history-and-philosophy-accompanied-by-some-acquaintance/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a women is, until after considerable acquaintance with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-frequently-only-finds-out-how-really-beautiful-a-women-is-until/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I'd rather be a nodding acquaintance, than a bobble head”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-d-rather-be-a-nodding-acquaintance-than-a-bobble-head/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [ \[On an anarchist acquaintance:\] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything-in-appearance-the-most/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [There is no such thing as educational value in the abstract. The notion that some subjects and methods and that acquaintance with certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-educational-value-in-the-abstract-the/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [ \[Books\] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. They propose themselves as either transient… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/books-will-visit-you-at-your-convenience-whether-you-are-lonesome-or/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [I'm not dating Prateik; he is just a good acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amyra-dastur/i-m-not-dating-prateik-he-is-just-a-good-acquaintance/) [Amyra Dastur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amyra-dastur/) > [Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/moderation-is-the-inseparable-companion-of-wisdom-but-with-it-genius/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. 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