--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'The Gambler' by Dostoevsky. It was the…" description: "\"'The Gambler' by Dostoevsky. It was the first time I realised that it was possible to have good and evil in one person. It led me to read a lot of Russ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/sue-townsend-8170_books_the-gambler-by-dostoevsky-it-was-the-fir_445401.png" --- # 'The Gambler' by Dostoevsky. It was the first time I… ![“'The Gambler' by Dostoevsky. It was the first time I realised that it was possible to have good and evil in one person. It led me to read a lot of Russian literature.” quote by Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/sue-townsend-8170_books_the-gambler-by-dostoevsky-it-was-the-fir_445401.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/sue-townsend-8170_books_the-gambler-by-dostoevsky-it-was-the-fir_445401.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/sue-townsend-8170_books_the-gambler-by-dostoevsky-it-was-the-fir_445401.png) > “'The Gambler' by Dostoevsky. It was the first time I realised that it was possible to have good and evil in one person. It led me to read a lot of Russian literature.” [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dostoevsky’s "The Gambler" reveals that good and evil coexist within a single person, prompting deeper literary exploration. **In simple terms:** People can hold both good and bad traits; literature reflects this complexity. Key Takeaway Recognize inner duality and explore it through reading. Themes human nature duality literature self‑reflection morality Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - reading clubs - psychology courses - creative writing workshops - personal journaling Key Concepts psychology character study ethical ambiguity Questions to Reflect On - What does recognizing inner conflict reveal about yourself? - How can literature help navigate moral ambiguity? 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And in the U.S. too, to an extent - especially Dostoevsky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/there-s-definitely-a-culture-of-russian-literature-in-turkey-and-in/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [“And it has always been a mystery, and I've marveled a thousand times at this ability of man (and, it seems, of the Russian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/and-it-has-always-been-a-mystery-and-i-ve-marveled-a-thousand-times/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Of all my films, people wrote to me most about this one... ...I had wanted to make The Idiot long before Rashomon. Since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/of-all-my-films-people-wrote-to-me-most-about-this-one-i-had-wanted/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [“And even though we may be involved with the most important affairs, achieve distinction or fall into some great misfortune- all the same, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/and-even-though-we-may-be-involved-with-the-most-important-affairs/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [ “Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (November 11 \[O.S. October 30\] 1821 – February 9 \[O.S. January 28\] 1881) is considered one of two greatest prose writers… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/fyodor-mikhailovich-dostoevsky-november-11-o-s-october-30-1821/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Nobody sees themselves as being an evil person or doing something for a bad reason. There's always something that justifies it to themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-druid/nobody-sees-themselves-as-being-an-evil-person-or-doing-something-for/) [Devin Druid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-druid/) > [The fascinating thing about Game of Thrones is that none of the badasses are just badasses, and none of the wimps are just wimps.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-pascal/the-fascinating-thing-about-game-of-thrones-is-that-none-of-the/) [Pedro Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-pascal/) > [“You know, it’s so typical that you’d equate ‘She’s not a good a person’ with ‘I don’t like her.’ The truth is that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-kanakia/you-know-it-s-so-typical-that-you-d-equate-she-s-not-a-good-a-person/) [Rahul Kanakia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-kanakia/) > [“There is no evil person, than the person who tries to get rid of their competitor. The things they do, Their thoughts and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/there-is-no-evil-person-than-the-person-who-tries-to-get-rid-of-their/) [De philosopher DJ Kyos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/) > [I don't like that I'm made out to be this evil person, who needs to be shot down and conquered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-diaz/i-don-t-like-that-i-m-made-out-to-be-this-evil-person-who-needs-to-be/) [Nick Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-diaz/) > [An evil person is like a dirty window, they never let the light shine through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/an-evil-person-is-like-a-dirty-window-they-never-let-the-light-shine/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I'm a really evil person on TV! It's way more fun to be the bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/i-m-a-really-evil-person-on-tv-it-s-way-more-fun-to-be-the-bad-guy/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [Let a good person do good deeds with the same zeal that an evil person does bad ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholom-rokeach/let-a-good-person-do-good-deeds-with-the-same-zeal-that-an-evil/) [Sholom Rokeach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholom-rokeach/) > [“May 30 A Prayer about Healing Words The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Prov.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-smith/may-30-a-prayer-about-healing-words-the-words-of-the-reckless-pierce/) [Scotty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-smith/) ## More by Sue Townsend > [I always wanted to be Jo in 'Little Women.' She's a bit reckless and feckless, always getting into trouble like me. But I'm probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-always-wanted-to-be-jo-in-little-women-she-s-a-bit-reckless-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Sex with the gorilla went on a bit, but once he'd stumbled over my clitoris we both had good times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/sex-with-the-gorilla-went-on-a-bit-but-once-he-d-stumbled-over-my/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Yes, I hate it when people call me a 'national treasure'. It takes away your bite and makes you feel like a harmless old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/yes-i-hate-it-when-people-call-me-a-national-treasure-it-takes-away/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I am the world's worst diabetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-am-the-world-s-worst-diabetic/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Personally, nothing would surprise me any more. If my father announced that he was really a Russian agent or my mother ran away with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any-more-if-my-father-announced/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Pauline: "All under-fives are mad Adrian, you used to talk to the moon. You invited it to your birthday party and cried when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/pauline-all-under-fives-are-mad-adrian-you-used-to-talk-to-the-moon/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Had a note from Mr Cherry asking me when I can resume my paper round. I sent a note back to say that due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/had-a-note-from-mr-cherry-asking-me-when-i-can-resume-my-paper-round/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [People down on their luck deserve the best: beautiful surroundings and well-paid professional staff to help them out of their difficulties. Why not train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/people-down-on-their-luck-deserve-the-best-beautiful-surroundings-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Most social problems could be helped or prevented if people had more money and practical advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/most-social-problems-could-be-helped-or-prevented-if-people-had-more/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I take life very seriously. I can laugh at it, because what else can you do? But it's a hard daily battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-take-life-very-seriously-i-can-laugh-at-it-because-what-else-can/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Yes - I am usually overweight. I have had to be interested in diet because of being diabetic for 30 years and having kidney failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/yes-i-am-usually-overweight-i-have-had-to-be-interested-in-diet/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [My dark secrets are life threatening. Pockets of unhappiness set in aspic that build and build. I have this primitive feeling that if something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/my-dark-secrets-are-life-threatening-pockets-of-unhappiness-set-in/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I'd love a day devoid of responsibilities. I've often thought about going to a hotel just to have a day away from everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-d-love-a-day-devoid-of-responsibilities-i-ve-often-thought-about/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [In the early days, it was, you know, I used to weep while I was writing. I used to grab at any kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/in-the-early-days-it-was-you-know-i-used-to-weep-while-i-was-writing/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“She is just straight all the way up and down, including her nose and mouth and hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/she-is-just-straight-all-the-way-up-and-down-including-her-nose-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) [Explore all 82 Sue Townsend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. 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There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'The Gambler' by Dostoevsky. It was the first time I realised that it was possible to have good and evil in one person. 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