--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To talk one’s own nonsense is almost…" description: "\"“To talk one’s own nonsense is almost better than spouting someone else’s truth.In the first case, you’re a human being; but in the second, you’re only..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_nonsense_to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-bet_3166361.jpg" --- # To talk one’s own nonsense is almost better than spouting… ![“To talk one’s own nonsense is almost better than spouting someone else’s truth.In the first case, you’re a human being; but in the second, you’re only a parrot!” quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_nonsense_to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-bet_3166361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_nonsense_to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-bet_3166361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_nonsense_to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-bet_3166361.jpg) > ““To talk one’s own nonsense is almost better than spouting someone else’s truth.In the first case, you’re a human being; but in the second, you’re only a parrot!”” [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. Speaking your own thoughts is more authentic than merely repeating others' ideas; originality shows humanity, imitation shows mindlessness **In simple terms:** Being original is better than copying Key Takeaway Value your own voice over echoing others Themes authenticity originality communication Mood introspective critical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - writing - debates - social media - teaching Key Concepts selfexpression critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What truth do you hold that others ignore? - When is it okay to echo others? A Different Perspective Original ideas may be flawed or misunderstood ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) ## Related quotes > [“‎" You think I am attacking them for talking nonsense? Not a bit! I like them to talk nonsense. That's man's one privilege over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-think-i-am-attacking-them-for-talking-nonsense-not-a-bit-i-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who refuses to do arithmetic is doomed to talk nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccarthy/he-who-refuses-to-do-arithmetic-is-doomed-to-talk-nonsense/) [John McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccarthy/) > [Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and have her nonsense respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/tis-the-privilege-of-friendship-to-talk-nonsense-and-have-her/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [“I like them to talk nonsense...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dostoevsky-fyodor/i-like-them-to-talk-nonsense/) Dostoevsky, Fyodor > [Democracy is talking itself to death. The people do not know what they want; they do not know what is the best for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/democracy-is-talking-itself-to-death-the-people-do-not-know-what-they/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [“All is not at an end on earth since we can still talk nonsense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/all-is-not-at-an-end-on-earth-since-we-can-still-talk-nonsense/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Talk nonsense, but talk your own nonsense, and I'll kiss you for it. To go wrong in one's own way is better than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/talk-nonsense-but-talk-your-own-nonsense-and-i-ll-kiss-you-for-it-to/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“... you think I am attacking them for talking nonsense? Not a bit! I like them to talk nonsense. That's man's one privilege over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/you-think-i-am-attacking-them-for-talking-nonsense-not-a-bit-i-like-2/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Listen!” Pulcheria Alexandrovna interrupted timidly, but it only added fuel to the flames. “What do you think?” shouted Razumihin, louder than ever, “you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/listen-pulcheria-alexandrovna-interrupted-timidly-but-it-only-added/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“The learned Fool writes his Nonsense in better Language than the unlearned; but still 'tis Nonsense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-franklin/the-learned-fool-writes-his-nonsense-in-better-language-than-the/) [Ben Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-franklin/) > [The more sparingly we make use of nonsense, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-more-sparingly-we-make-use-of-nonsense-the-better/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“Nonsense is better than no sense. For at least some sense can be made from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-edward-lee-miller/nonsense-is-better-than-no-sense-for-at-least-some-sense-can-be-made/) [Cody Edward Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-edward-lee-miller/) > [The learned fool writes his nonsense in better language than the unlearned, but it is still nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-learned-fool-writes-his-nonsense-in-better-language-than-the-2/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Friendship is the ability to talk nonsense and have that nonsense respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clevelle/friendship-is-the-ability-to-talk-nonsense-and-have-that-nonsense/) [Clevelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clevelle/) > [Another stupid party . . . with six people to look on, and talk nonsense to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/another-stupid-party-with-six-people-to-look-on-and-talk-nonsense-to/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) ## 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. Better to set an example, better to just start - I have already started - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/listen-i-know-it-s-not-right-to-talk-better-to-set-an-example-better/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“And what if there are only spiders there, or something of that sort”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/and-what-if-there-are-only-spiders-there-or-something-of-that-sort/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“The morning was so damp and misty”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-morning-was-so-damp-and-misty/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“I repeat, I repeat with emphasis: all "direct" persons and men of action are active just because they are stupid and limited. 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! Only how is he going to be good without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/if-god-doesn-t-exist-man-is-the-chief-of-the-earth-of-the-universe/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“From an encounter in 1862... “Dickens told me,” Dostoyevsky recalled in a letter written years later, “that all the good, simple people in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/from-an-encounter-in-1862-dickens-told-me-dostoyevsky-recalled-in-a/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“It must be the top drawer," he reflected. "So she carries the keys in a pocket on the right. All in one bunch on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/it-must-be-the-top-drawer-he-reflected-so-she-carries-the-keys-in-a/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“- You take evil for good. It's a passing crisis. 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.' In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-think-i-could-stand-anything-any-suffering-only-to-be-able-to-say/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“There is no more ceaseless or tormenting care for man, as long as he remains free, than to find someone to bow down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/there-is-no-more-ceaseless-or-tormenting-care-for-man-as-long-as-he/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) [Explore all 1,078 Fyodor Dostoyevsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) ## More Nonsense quotes > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I love people who have such passion for complete nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-love-people-who-have-such-passion-for-complete-nonsense/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [GenX has a no-nonsense attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-dev/genx-has-a-no-nonsense-attitude/) [Rahul Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-dev/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Films take too long. There's too much BS, too much nonsense. If I want to do a play, I just call the theater, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/films-take-too-long-there-s-too-much-bs-too-much-nonsense-if-i-want/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [While all men are born as equals, to say that Brahmins alone are the highest and all others are low as Pariah (the Untouchables)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/while-all-men-are-born-as-equals-to-say-that-brahmins-alone-are-the/) [Periyar E. V. Ramasamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/) > [Even God has been defended with nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/even-god-has-been-defended-with-nonsense/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [The idea that there is a difference between East and West is nonsense. You both hand over your card with two hands. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/the-idea-that-there-is-a-difference-between-east-and-west-is-nonsense/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [Unless you see your nature, all this talk about cause & effect is nonsense. Buddhas don't practice nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/unless-you-see-your-nature-all-this-talk-about-cause-effect-is/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [It is often sadly remarked that the bad economists present their errors to the public better than the good economists present their truths. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/it-is-often-sadly-remarked-that-the-bad-economists-present-their/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [“Which distressed that Old Man of Jamaica. nonsense”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/which-distressed-that-old-man-of-jamaica-nonsense/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [I hope the day will come when a wasp-waist and a pair of thin shoulders will not be esteemed beauty: we have had our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mcnair-wright/i-hope-the-day-will-come-when-a-wasp-waist-and-a-pair-of-thin/) [Julia McNair Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mcnair-wright/) [Browse all 1,436 Nonsense quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To talk one’s own nonsense is almost better than spouting someone else’s truth.In the first case, you’re a human being; but in the second, you’re only a parrot!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fyodor Dostoyevsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-better-than-spouting-someone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Nonsense" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-better-than-spouting-someone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_nonsense_to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-bet_3166361.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_nonsense_to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-bet_3166361.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_nonsense_to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-bet_3166361.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To talk one’s own nonsense is almost better than spouting someone else’s truth.In the first case, you’re a…” — Fyodor Dostoyevsky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Fyodor Dostoyevsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To talk one’s own nonsense is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-better-than-spouting-someone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/to-talk-one-s-own-nonsense-is-almost-better-than-spouting-someone/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```