--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I agree that two and two make four is an…" description: "\"I agree that two and two make four is an excellent thing; but to give everything its due, two and two make five is also a very fine thing.\" — Fyodor Do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_agree_i-agree-that-two-and-two-make-four-is-an_1085390.jpg" --- # I agree that two and two make four is an excellent thing… ![“I agree that two and two make four is an excellent thing; but to give everything its due, two and two make five is also a very fine thing.” quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_agree_i-agree-that-two-and-two-make-four-is-an_1085390.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_agree_i-agree-that-two-and-two-make-four-is-an_1085390.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_agree_i-agree-that-two-and-two-make-four-is-an_1085390.jpg) > “I agree that two and two make four is an excellent thing; but to give everything its due, two and two make five is also a very fine thing.” [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement juxtaposes strict logic with creative reinterpretation, suggesting that both literal truth and imaginative deviation have value. **In simple terms:** Both literal truth and imagination matter. Key Takeaway Balance factual accuracy with creative thinking. Themes truth creativity philosophy Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - writing - science - politics Key Concepts epistemology literary criticism Questions to Reflect On - When should you prioritize facts over imagination? - How does creative reinterpretation enrich truth? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on one side can limit understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree/) [Agree Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree-make-1601213/) [Dues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dues/) [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Fine Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-thing-500430/) [Fine things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-things/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Make Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-excellent-2583959/) [Make Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-fine-2374342/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Thing Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-make-391190/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [“Very well, I agree that two and two make four is an excellent thing; but...two and two make five is also a very fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/very-well-i-agree-that-two-and-two-make-four-is-an-excellent-thing/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [I can't make head or tail of Life. Love is a fine thing, Art is a fine thing, Nature is a fine thing; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/i-can-t-make-head-or-tail-of-life-love-is-a-fine-thing-art-is-a-fine/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [It is a fine thing to see people in hot earnest about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/it-is-a-fine-thing-to-see-people-in-hot-earnest-about-anything/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Democracy -- rule by the people -- sounds like a fine thing; we should try it sometime in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/democracy-rule-by-the-people-sounds-like-a-fine-thing-we-should-try/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [You can't do a fine thing without having seen fine examples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris-hunt/you-can-t-do-a-fine-thing-without-having-seen-fine-examples/) [William Morris Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris-hunt/) > [Saving is a fine thing. 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If anything, they'll say what needs to be said, no matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-best-friend-won-t-agree-with-you-to-make-you-happy-if-anything-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being thick doesn't make you fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-thick-doesn-t-make-you-fine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Like everyone, I want to make my own "fine art."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-alan-stamaty/like-everyone-i-want-to-make-my-own-fine-art/) [Mark Alan Stamaty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-alan-stamaty/) > [How can you be content to be in the world like tulips in a garden, to make a fine show, and be good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-astell/how-can-you-be-content-to-be-in-the-world-like-tulips-in-a-garden-to/) [Mary Astell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-astell/) ## More by Fyodor Dostoevsky > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [... you are a man still young, so to say, in your first youth and so put intellect above everything ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-are-a-man-still-young-so-to-say-in-your-first-youth-and-so-put/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“There is only one salvation for you: take yourself up, and make yourself responsible for all the sins of men. For indeed it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/there-is-only-one-salvation-for-you-take-yourself-up-and-make/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“It is true I am a complete stranger to these people, but they are not strangers to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/it-is-true-i-am-a-complete-stranger-to-these-people-but-they-are-not/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Everything seems stupid when it fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/everything-seems-stupid-when-it-fails/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Love to throw yourself on the earth and kiss it. Kiss the earth and love it with an unceasing, consuming love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/love-to-throw-yourself-on-the-earth-and-kiss-it-kiss-the-earth-and/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [They have this social justification for every nasty thing they do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/they-have-this-social-justification-for-every-nasty-thing-they-do/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Be the sun and all will see you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/be-the-sun-and-all-will-see-you/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [If you are penitent, you love. And if you love you are of God. All things are atoned for, all things are saved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/if-you-are-penitent-you-love-and-if-you-love-you-are-of-god-all/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“To kill for murder is a punishment incomparably worse than the crime itself. 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I'll tell you who does: fools and scoundrels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/now-answer-me-sincerely-honestly-who-lives-past-forty-i-ll-tell-you/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“There are crimes that are truly uncomely. 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