Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself.

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821–1881), Schriftsteller

Source: Die Brüder Karamasow, Übers. Constance Garnett

Topics: Freedom & Truth, Love, Ethical Questions

Occasions: For Reflection

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fjodor Dostojewski (1821–1881) war ein russischer Schriftsteller und Denker, der nach Zwangsarbeit und Verbannung in Sibirien vor allem in Sankt Petersburg wirkte. In Romanen wie „Schuld und Sühne“ und „Die Brüder Karamasow“ erforschte er existenzielle Fragen von Schuld, Gewissen und Glauben, vertrat publizistisch jedoch auch nationalistische und antisemitische Positionen. Für Bibelleser bietet sein Werk eine tiefgründige Auseinandersetzung mit Willensfreiheit, Theodizee und der Suche nach Erlösung durch Christus inmitten menschlicher Abgründe.

All quotes by Fyodor Dostoevsky (266)

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