Abyss Quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
““...we are of a broad, Karamazovian nature--and this is what I am driving at--capable of containing all possible opposites and of contemplating both abysses at once, the abyss above us, an abyss of lofty ideals, and the abyss beneath us, and abyss of the lowest and foulest degradation.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Brothers Karamazov, 1880
Human nature contains contradictory extremes, from lofty ideals to deepest degradation, coexisting within each individual.
In simple terms: People hold both high ideals and low impulses at once.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the complexity of self, not just one side.
Themes
dualism
morality
existence
Mood
introspective
philosophical
Type
literary
existential
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- ethical dilemmas
- literary analysis
- therapy
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Which abyss do you feel dominates your choices?
- Can one truly hold opposing values simultaneously?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on extremes can oversimplify the nuanced middle ground.
![“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)
