"But would you kindly ponder this question: What would your good do if evil didn't exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared? After all, shadows are cast by things and people. Here is the shadow of my sword. But shadows also come from trees and living beings. Do you want to strip the earth of all trees and living things just because of your fantasy of enjoying naked light? You're stupid."
About Mikhail Bulgakov
Mikhail Bulgakov — Life and Legacy
Mikhail Bulgakov, a prominent Russian novelist and playwright, is best known for his masterwork 'The Master and Margarita,' a novel that intricately weaves together themes of love, power, and the nature of good and evil. His experiences living under a repressive regime profoundly shaped his worldview, leading him to explore the complexities of human nature and societal structures in his writing. Bulgakov's key ideas often reflect a deep skepticism towards authority and a fascination with the supernatural. His quote, 'Manuscripts don't burn,' encapsulates his belief in the resilience of truth and creativity, suggesting that genuine art and expression endure despite oppressive forces. This perspective is vividly illustrated in 'The Master and Margarita,' where the character Woland challenges the moral certainties of society, prompting readers to confront their own assumptions about good and evil. The relevance of Bulgakov's quotes today lies in their exploration of the human condition amidst chaos and uncertainty. His insights into love and power continue to resonate, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives and the societal structures that shape them. Through his unique blend of satire and philosophical inquiry, Bulgakov remains a vital voice in literature, offering profound reflections on the complexities of existence.
Quote collection
Mikhail Bulgakov quotes (page 1 of 4)
77 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Is that vodka?" Margarita asked weakly. The cat jumped up in his seat with indignation. "I beg pardon, my queen," he rasped, "Would I ever allow myself to offer vodka to a lady? This is pure alcohol!"
"Kindness. The only possible method when dealing with a living creature. You'll get nowhere with an animal if you use terror, no matter what its level of development may be. That I have maintained, do maintain and always will maintain. People who think you can use terror are quite wrong. No, no, terror is useless, whatever its colour – white, red or even brown! Terror completely paralyses the nervous system."
""We speak different languages, as usual," responded Woland, "but this does not change the things we speak about. Well?...""
"Everything passes away-suffering,pain, blood, hunger,pestilence. The sword will pass away too, but the stars will remain when the shadows of our presence and our deeds have vanished from the Earth. There is no man who does not know that. Why, then, will we not turn our eyes toward the stars? Why?"
"Cowardice is the most terrible of vices."
"Everything will turn out right, the world is built on that."
"What would your good do if evil didn't exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared?"
"Follow me, reader! Who told you that there is no true, faithful, eternal love in this world! May the liar's vile tongue be cut out! Follow me, my reader, and me alone, and I will show you such a love!"
"You should never ask anyone for anything. Never- and especially from those who are more powerful than yourself."
"he was coming to understand he could not come to rectify anything in his life, only forget."
"Yes, man is mortal, but that would be only half the trouble. The worst of it is that he's sometimes unexpectedly mortal—there's the trick!"
"Most bad," the host concluded. "If you ask me, something sinister lurks in men who avoid wine, games, the company of lovely women, and dinnertime conversation. Such people are either gravely ill or secretly detest everyone around them."
"But what can be done, the one who loves must share the fate of the who is loved."
"The tongue may hide the truth but the eyes—never!"
"In order to be in control, you have to have a definite plan for at least a reasonable period of time. So how, may I ask, can man be in control if he can't even draw up a plan for a ridiculously short period of time, say, a thousand years, and is, moreover, unable to ensure his own safety for even the next day?"
"and a fact is the most stubborn thing in the world."
"Not causing trouble, not touching anything, fixing the primus."
"Punch a man on the nose, kick an old man downstairs, shoot somebody or any old thing like that, that’s my job. But argue with women in love—no thank you!"
"He who never hurries is always on time."