Ethics-and-moral-philosophy Quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky
““Above all, avoid falsehood, every kind of falsehood, especially falseness to yourself. Watch over your own deceitfulness and look into it every hour, every minute. Avoid being scornful, both to others and to yourself. What seems to you bad within you will grow purer from the very fact of your observing it in yourself. Avoid fear, too, though fear is only the consequence of every sort of falsehood. Never be frightened at your own faint-heartedness in attaining love.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, 1880
Self‑honesty requires constant vigilance against self‑deception; confronting inner flaws purifies character and reduces fear.
In simple terms: Be honest with yourself to grow.
Practice daily self‑reflection.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal development
- therapy
- relationship building
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner falsehoods do you ignore?
- How does confronting them change you?
Self‑scrutiny can become paralyzing if not balanced with self‑compassion.