Dostoevsky Quote by Ernest Hemingway
““In Dostoevsky there were things unbelievable and not to be believed, but some so true they changed you as you read them; frailty and madness, wickedness and saintliness, and the insanity of gambling were there to know as you knew the landscape and the roads in turgenev””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Art of the Novel” by Ernest Hemingway, 1932
Hemingway notes that Dostoevsky’s work mixes the unbelievable with stark truth, revealing deep human frailty, madness, wickedness, saintliness, and the lure of gambling, contrasting it with Turgenev’s clearer landscapes.
In simple terms: Dostoevsky blends extreme reality and fantasy, exposing human extremes and moral complexity, unlike Turgenev’s simpler scenes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how extreme characters reveal deeper truths.
Themes
literature
psychology
human nature
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
analytical
literary
When to use this quote
- reading classics
- writing analysis
- psychological insight
- teaching literature
Key Concepts
existentialism
moral ambiguity
character study
Questions to Reflect On
- How do extreme characters help us understand ourselves?
- What can we learn from contrasting literary styles?
A Different Perspective
The comparison may oversimplify Turgenev’s depth.
![“[W]e are changed by what we read. Close that book, and you are not the same person anymore. Because of what you just read, your worldview--your understanding, your compassion for others, your ability to engage intelligently with others--has expanded a little. Books help us grow….” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b06/anonymous-1_books_w-e-are-changed-by-what-we-read-close-th_1030432.jpg)
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