--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I haven’t been here long, but…" description: "\"“I haven’t been here long, but, nevertheless, all the same, what I’ve managed to observe and verify here arouses the indignation of my Tartar blood. By..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_honest-people_i-haven-t-been-here-long-but-nevertheles_1682445.png" --- # I haven’t been here long, but, nevertheless, all the same… ![“I haven’t been here long, but, nevertheless, all the same, what I’ve managed to observe and verify here arouses the indignation of my Tartar blood. By God, I don’t want such virtues! I managed to make a seven-mile tour here yesterday. Well, it’s exactly the same as in those moralizing little…” quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_honest-people_i-haven-t-been-here-long-but-nevertheles_1682445.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_honest-people_i-haven-t-been-here-long-but-nevertheles_1682445.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/670/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_honest-people_i-haven-t-been-here-long-but-nevertheles_1682445.png) > ““I haven’t been here long, but, nevertheless, all the same, what I’ve managed to observe and verify here arouses the indignation of my Tartar blood. By God, I don’t want such virtues! I managed to make a seven-mile tour here yesterday. Well, it’s exactly the same as in those moralizing little German picture books: everywhere here each house has its Vater, terribly virtuous and extraordinarily honest. So honest it’s even frightening to go near him. I can’t stand honest people whom it’s frightening to go near. Each such Vater has a family, and in the evening they all read edifying books aloud. Over their little house, elms and chestnuts rustle. A sunset, a stork on the roof, and all of it extraordinarily poetic and touching…”” [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 narrator despises the overtly virtuous, moralizing society that feels oppressive and artificial, revealing his inner conflict between admiration and revulsion. **In simple terms:** He resents people who are too honest and moral. Key Takeaway Question the value of forced virtue. Themes hypocrisy disillusionment social critique Mood irritated contemplative skeptical Type literary critical philosophical When to use this quote - observing bourgeois hypocrisy - interacting with overly moral individuals - reflecting on personal authenticity - navigating social expectations Key Concepts existentialism moral philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever feel uncomfortable around people who seem too perfect? - How can we balance honesty with empathy? A Different Perspective Such extreme honesty can be alienating, but it may also inspire genuine integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Honest people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-people/) ## Related quotes > [“His declaration was so honest and so frightening, the words burned into her like fire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/his-declaration-was-so-honest-and-so-frightening-the-words-burned/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [The personal qualities necessary for attaining office are practically the opposite of those demanded by the office itself. The trouble with the damn system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-hogan/the-personal-qualities-necessary-for-attaining-office-are-practically/) [James P. Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-hogan/) > [How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-desperately-difficult-it-is-to-be-honest-with-oneself-it-is-much-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You've got to be who you are. You've got to be honest with people. If your views change on something, you've got to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/you-ve-got-to-be-who-you-are-you-ve-got-to-be-honest-with-people-if/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [“Irene closed her book and stared at the older Van Holtz. “I don’t dislike him. But that was recent. I used to not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/irene-closed-her-book-and-stared-at-the-older-van-holtz-i-don-t/) [Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/) > [Sometimes I'm just a little bit too honest. There was some things that were going on behind the scenes that I didn't like because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/sometimes-i-m-just-a-little-bit-too-honest-there-was-some-things-that/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [I've discovered that I love to be honest with people, that's it's brutal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevinterribly/i-ve-discovered-that-i-love-to-be-honest-with-people-that-s-it-s/) KevinTerribly > [How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.What is true is invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/how-desperately-difficult-it-is-to-be-honest-with-oneself-it-is-much/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“Every day, on the roads of Delhi, some chauffeur is driving an empty car with a black suitcase sitting on the backseat. Inside that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/every-day-on-the-roads-of-delhi-some-chauffeur-is-driving-an-empty/) [Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/) > [I'd wish the government took honest people into consideration, it shows enough consideration for scoundrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/i-d-wish-the-government-took-honest-people-into-consideration-it/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“Only honest people take you at your word. Liars and thieves expect the same in return. Unfortunately for him, I didn’t have a problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-augustine/only-honest-people-take-you-at-your-word-liars-and-thieves-expect-the/) [Donna Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-augustine/) > [“You have to be yourself. Be very honest about who and what you are. And if people still like or love you, that's great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/you-have-to-be-yourself-be-very-honest-about-who-and-what-you-are-and/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [“Plato argued that good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will always find a way around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/plato-argued-that-good-people-do-not-need-laws-to-tell-them-to-act/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [I think that, you know, this is a different year than most years. We've got to tell the American people that we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/i-think-that-you-know-this-is-a-different-year-than-most-years-we-ve/) [Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/) > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) ## 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. Murder by legal sentence is immeasurably more terrible than murder by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/to-kill-for-murder-is-a-punishment-incomparably-worse-than-the-crime/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“You magnify your failure to a crime, Vasya.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-magnify-your-failure-to-a-crime-vasya/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [The death of a child is the greatest reason to doubt the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-death-of-a-child-is-the-greatest-reason-to-doubt-the-existence-of/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [In a way there's only a fine shade of difference between the healthy and the deranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/in-a-way-there-s-only-a-fine-shade-of-difference-between-the-healthy/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“Now answer me, sincerely, honestly, who lives past forty? 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. With crimes, whatever they may be, the more blood, the more horror there is, the more imposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/there-are-crimes-that-are-truly-uncomely-with-crimes-whatever-they/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) [Explore all 642 Fyodor Dostoevsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) ## More Honest people quotes > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [I think that, you know, this is a different year than most years. We've got to tell the American people that we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/i-think-that-you-know-this-is-a-different-year-than-most-years-we-ve/) [Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/) > [“Plato argued that good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will always find a way around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/plato-argued-that-good-people-do-not-need-laws-to-tell-them-to-act/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“You have to be yourself. Be very honest about who and what you are. And if people still like or love you, that's great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/you-have-to-be-yourself-be-very-honest-about-who-and-what-you-are-and/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [“Only honest people take you at your word. Liars and thieves expect the same in return. Unfortunately for him, I didn’t have a problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-augustine/only-honest-people-take-you-at-your-word-liars-and-thieves-expect-the/) [Donna Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-augustine/) > [I'd wish the government took honest people into consideration, it shows enough consideration for scoundrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/i-d-wish-the-government-took-honest-people-into-consideration-it/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“Every day, on the roads of Delhi, some chauffeur is driving an empty car with a black suitcase sitting on the backseat. Inside that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/every-day-on-the-roads-of-delhi-some-chauffeur-is-driving-an-empty/) [Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/) > [How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.What is true is invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/how-desperately-difficult-it-is-to-be-honest-with-oneself-it-is-much/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [I've discovered that I love to be honest with people, that's it's brutal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevinterribly/i-ve-discovered-that-i-love-to-be-honest-with-people-that-s-it-s/) KevinTerribly > [Sometimes I'm just a little bit too honest. There was some things that were going on behind the scenes that I didn't like because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/sometimes-i-m-just-a-little-bit-too-honest-there-was-some-things-that/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [“Irene closed her book and stared at the older Van Holtz. “I don’t dislike him. But that was recent. I used to not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/irene-closed-her-book-and-stared-at-the-older-van-holtz-i-don-t/) [Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/) > [You've got to be who you are. You've got to be honest with people. If your views change on something, you've got to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/you-ve-got-to-be-who-you-are-you-ve-got-to-be-honest-with-people-if/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-desperately-difficult-it-is-to-be-honest-with-oneself-it-is-much-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The personal qualities necessary for attaining office are practically the opposite of those demanded by the office itself. The trouble with the damn system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-hogan/the-personal-qualities-necessary-for-attaining-office-are-practically/) [James P. Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-hogan/) > [“Guadalupe Fuentes: --They're not paid to kill honest people, to shoot for no good reasons. Rubenia Fuentes: --Ah, my little girl, then why do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manlio-argueta/guadalupe-fuentes-they-re-not-paid-to-kill-honest-people-to-shoot-for/) [Manlio Argueta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manlio-argueta/) [Browse all 197 Honest people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I haven’t been here long, but, nevertheless, all the same, what I’ve managed to observe and verify here arouses the indignation of my Tartar blood. By God, I don’t want such virtues! I managed to make a seven-mile tour here yesterday. Well, it’s exactly the same as in those moralizing little German picture books: everywhere here each house has its Vater, terribly virtuous and extraordinarily honest. So honest it’s even frightening to go near him. I can’t stand honest people whom it’s frightening to go near. Each such Vater has a family, and in the evening they all read edifying books aloud. Over their little house, elms and chestnuts rustle. 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