--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...For active love is a harsh and fearful…" description: "\"“...For active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams thirsts for immediate action, quickly performed, and with..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_dreams_for-active-love-is-a-harsh-and-fearful-t_478885.jpg" --- # ...For active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared… ![“...For active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams thirsts for immediate action, quickly performed, and with everyone watching. Indeed, it will go as far as the giving even of one's life, provided it does not take long but is soon over, as on stage, and…” quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_dreams_for-active-love-is-a-harsh-and-fearful-t_478885.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_dreams_for-active-love-is-a-harsh-and-fearful-t_478885.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_dreams_for-active-love-is-a-harsh-and-fearful-t_478885.jpg) > ““...For active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams thirsts for immediate action, quickly performed, and with everyone watching. Indeed, it will go as far as the giving even of one's life, provided it does not take long but is soon over, as on stage, and everyone is looking on and praising. Whereas active love is labor and perseverance, and for some people, perhaps, a whole science.”” [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Active love requires effort, endurance, and sacrifice, unlike fleeting, idealized love that seeks quick gratification and public approval. **In simple terms:** Real love is hard work, not just fantasy. Key Takeaway Embrace perseverance in relationships. Themes love effort perseverance reality sacrifice Mood reflective serious thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - marriage - friendship - parenting - long‑term projects Key Concepts existentialism psychology human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance effort and joy in love? - What sacrifices are worth making? A Different Perspective Active love may lead to burnout if expectations are unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active-love-310845/) [Compared Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compared-love-1724322/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Dreams Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams-love/) [Immediate action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immediate-action/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-dreams/) [Love In Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-in-dreams/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [“Active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams thirsts for immediate action, quickly performed, and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/active-love-is-a-harsh-and-fearful-thing-compared-with-love-in-dreams/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“I am sorry I can say nothing more to console you, for love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-am-sorry-i-can-say-nothing-more-to-console-you-for-love-in-action/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“...for love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams is greedy for immediate action, rapidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/for-love-in-action-is-a-harsh-and-dreadful-thing-compared-with-love/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“I am sorry I cannot say anything more comforting, for active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared with love in dreams. Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-am-sorry-i-cannot-say-anything-more-comforting-for-active-love-is-a/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [... active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared with the love in dreams. Love in dreams thirsts for immediate action, quickly performed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/active-love-is-a-harsh-and-fearful-thing-compared-with-the-love-in/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“Never be frightened at your own faint-heartedness in attaining love. Don't be frightened overmuch even at your evil actions. I am sorry I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/never-be-frightened-at-your-own-faint-heartedness-in-attaining-love/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/love-in-action-is-a-harsh-and-dreadful-thing-compared-to-love-in/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-in-action-is-a-harsh-and-dreadful-thing-compared-with-love-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Dostoyevsky says, “love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams” (The Brothers Karamazov).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/dostoyevsky-says-love-in-action-is-a-harsh-and-dreadful-thing/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [As Dostoevski said: 'Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/as-dostoevski-said-love-in-action-is-a-harsh-and-dreadful-thing/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [“Love in action is harsh and dreadful when compared to love in dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/love-in-action-is-harsh-and-dreadful-when-compared-to-love-in-dreams/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [“In the words of Dostoyevsky, “Active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared with love in dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamin-goggin/in-the-words-of-dostoyevsky-active-love-is-a-harsh-and-fearful-thing/) [Jamin Goggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamin-goggin/) > [“One cannot prove anything here, but it is possible to be convinced.' How? By what?' By the experience of active love. Try to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/one-cannot-prove-anything-here-but-it-is-possible-to-be-convinced-how/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [She dreams a lot. She dreams of Ondines and falling maidens and houses burning in the night. But search her dreams all you like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/she-dreams-a-lot-she-dreams-of-ondines-and-falling-maidens-and-houses/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [“Contemplative love seeks a heroic deed that can be accomplished without delay and in full view of everyone. Indeed, some people are even ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/contemplative-love-seeks-a-heroic-deed-that-can-be-accomplished/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) ## More by Fyodor Dostoyevsky > [“Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. There God and the Devil strive for mastery, and the battleground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/beauty-is-not-only-a-terrible-thing-it-is-also-a-mysterious-thing/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Listen! I know it's not right to talk. 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How explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-repeat-i-repeat-with-emphasis-all-direct-persons-and-men-of-action/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“He is a man of intelligence, but to act sensibly, intelligence is not enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/he-is-a-man-of-intelligence-but-to-act-sensibly-intelligence-is-not/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [ “if \[God\] doesn't exist, man is the chief of the earth, of the universe. Magnificent! 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It's the result of your illness, perhaps. - You do despise me! It's simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/you-take-evil-for-good-it-s-a-passing-crisis-it-s-the-result-of-your/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Clouds overlaid the sky as with a shroud of mist, and everything looked sad, rainy, and threatening under a fine drizzle which was beating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/clouds-overlaid-the-sky-as-with-a-shroud-of-mist-and-everything/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“People who can speak well, speak briefly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/people-who-can-speak-well-speak-briefly/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“I think I could stand anything, any suffering, only to be able to say and to repeat to myself every moment, 'I exist.' 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A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. 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I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...For active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams thirsts for immediate action, quickly performed, and with everyone watching. Indeed, it will go as far as the giving even of one's life, provided it does not take long but is soon over, as on stage, and everyone is looking on and praising. 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