Smell Quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
““True, they are convenient enough, yet every one of them has an ATMOSPHERE. I do not mean that they smell badly so much as that each of them seems to contain something which gives forth a rank, sickly-sweet odour. At first the impression is an unpleasant one, but a couple of minutes will suffice to dissipate it, for the reason that EVERYTHING here smells — people’s clothes, hands, and everything else — and one grows accustomed to the rankness. Canaries, however, soon die in this house. A naval officer here has just bought his fifth. Birds cannot live long in such an air.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Brothers Karamazov, 1880
The setting feels oppressive, with a sickly sweet smell that initially offends but eventually becomes tolerable, yet it is lethal to delicate beings like canaries.
In simple terms: The air is heavy and initially unpleasant, but people adapt; birds cannot survive.
Key Takeaway
Beware environments that seem fine to humans but harm sensitive life.
Themes
environment
sensory perception
adaptation
vulnerability
Mood
uneasy
reflective
Type
observational
cautionary
When to use this quote
- living in cramped spaces
- working in offices
- keeping pets
- designing ventilation systems
Key Concepts
psychology
ecology
atmosphere
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance human comfort with ecological health?
A Different Perspective
What may seem tolerable to humans can be deadly to other organisms.
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