--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh, it's awful! oh dear, oh dear! awful!\"…" description: "\"“Oh, it's awful! oh dear, oh dear! awful!\" Stepan Arkadyevitch kept repeating to himself, and he could think of nothing to be done. \"And how well thing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/leo-tolstoy-55_black-eyes_oh-it-s-awful-oh-dear-oh-dear-awful-step_2973260.jpg" --- # Oh, it's awful! oh dear, oh dear! awful!" Stepan… ![“Oh, it's awful! oh dear, oh dear! awful!" Stepan Arkadyevitch kept repeating to himself, and he could think of nothing to be done. "And how well things were going up till now! how well we got on! She was contented and happy in her children; I never interfered with her in anything; I let her manage…” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/leo-tolstoy-55_black-eyes_oh-it-s-awful-oh-dear-oh-dear-awful-step_2973260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/leo-tolstoy-55_black-eyes_oh-it-s-awful-oh-dear-oh-dear-awful-step_2973260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/leo-tolstoy-55_black-eyes_oh-it-s-awful-oh-dear-oh-dear-awful-step_2973260.jpg) > ““Oh, it's awful! oh dear, oh dear! awful!" Stepan Arkadyevitch kept repeating to himself, and he could think of nothing to be done. "And how well things were going up till now! how well we got on! She was contented and happy in her children; I never interfered with her in anything; I let her manage the children and the house just as she liked. It's true it's bad HER having been a governess in our house. That's bad! There's something common, vulgar, in flirting with one's governess. But what a governess!" (He vividly recalled the roguish black eyes of Mlle. Roland and her smile.) "But after all, while she was in the house, I kept myself in hand. And the worst of it all is that she's already… it seems as if ill-luck would have it so! Oh, oh! But what, what is to be done?”” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man feels trapped by social expectations and personal anxieties, fearing misfortune and questioning his choices. **In simple terms:** He is anxious about his life and future. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront personal fears. Themes anxiety social pressure self‑doubt Mood uneasy reflective Type literary psychological When to use this quote - marriage - family dynamics - career decisions - social reputation Key Concepts existential dread class constraints personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions fuel your anxiety? - How can you gain perspective on perceived misfortune? A Different Perspective His worries may be exaggerated and stem from over‑thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arkadyevitch Kept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arkadyevitch-kept-4588142/) [Awful Stepan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful-stepan-4588139/) [Black eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-eyes/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Contented And Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contented-and-happy-219950/) [Flirting Governess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flirting-governess-4588141/) [Governess Governess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governess-governess-4588143/) [Having Governess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-governess-4588140/) ## Related quotes > [ His \[the President's\] earnest desire is, that you may perpetuated and preserved as a nation; and this he believes can only be doneand secured… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/his-the-president-s-earnest-desire-is-that-you-may-perpetuated-and/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [I definitely hope and pray everyone has this kind of a married life - contented and happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/supriya-pathak/i-definitely-hope-and-pray-everyone-has-this-kind-of-a-married-life/) [Supriya Pathak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/supriya-pathak/) > [Who doesn’t? 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My father is right. 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Roland and her smile.) \"But after all, while she was in the house, I kept myself in hand. And the worst of it all is that she's already… it seems as if ill-luck would have it so! Oh, oh! 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