Communication Quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
““…have you noticed, Rodion Romanovitch, that in our Petersburg circles, if two clever men meet who are not intimate, but respect each other, like you and me, it takes them half an hour before they can find a subject for conversation – they are dumb, they sit opposite each other and feel awkward? Everyone has subjects of conversation, ladies for instance…people in high society always have their subjects of conversation, c’est de rigueur; but people of the middle sort like us, thinking people that is, are always tongue-tied and awkward. What is the reason of it? Whether it is the lack of public interest, or whether it is we are so honest we don’t want to deceive one another, I don’t know. What do you think?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1866
The passage explores social awkwardness among strangers who respect each other but lack common topics, contrasting high society’s ease with middle‑class discomfort.
In simple terms: People often feel uneasy when they lack shared conversation topics.
Key Takeaway
Seek common interests to ease social tension.
Themes
social anxiety
conversation
class differences
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
observational
conversational
When to use this quote
- networking events
- first dates
- professional meetings
- family gatherings
Key Concepts
psychology
social dynamics
honesty
Questions to Reflect On
- What topics could bridge gaps between strangers?
- How does honesty affect conversational flow?
A Different Perspective
Even with respect, silence can persist without shared interests.
![“François Fenelon urged: Tell [God] all that is in your heart, as one unloads one’s heart to a dear friend. . . . People who have no secrets from each other never want for subjects of conversation; they do not . . . weigh their words, because there is nothing to be kept back. Neither do they seek…” quote by R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f3/r-kent-hughes-16131_communication_fran-ois-fenelon-urged-tell-god-all-that_1721830.jpg)
![“if [God] doesn't exist, man is the chief of the earth, of the universe. Magnificent! Only how is he going to be good without God?” quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/09b/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_ethics_if-god-doesn-t-exist-man-is-the-chief-of_16023.jpg)
