Anna-karenina Quote by Leo Tolstoy
““I’ve never seen exquisite fallen beings, and I never shall see them, but such creatures as that painted Frenchwoman at the counter with the ringlets are vermin to my mind, and all fallen women are the same. ‘But the Magdalen?’ ‘Ah, drop that! Christ would never have said those words if He had known how they would be abused. Of all the Gospel those words are the only ones remembered.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Anna Karenina, 1877
The narrator despises women who have fallen from moral grace, equating them with vermin, and dismisses any redemption narrative.
In simple terms: He sees fallen women as irredeemable and rejects the idea of their salvation.
Key Takeaway
Reject moral hypocrisy and recognize humanity in all.
Themes
morality
gender
religion
hypocrisy
Mood
cynical
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- social criticism
- literary analysis
- theological debate
Key Concepts
fallen women
redemption
Christ
abuse
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we ever truly judge another’s moral state?
- What does this reveal about societal attitudes toward women?
A Different Perspective
The view ignores complexity of human experience and potential for change.
