“Shabelsky: Doctors are the same as lawyers, the sole difference being that lawyers only rob you, but doctors rob you and kill you too...”

“Lvov: I need to have a candid talk with you, Nikolay Alekseyevich.Ivanov: Doctor, if we're going to have a candid talk every day, I haven't the strength for it.”

“Shabelsky: O mind of genius, you think up things for everyone and teach everyone, but why not for once teach me... Teach me, great brain, show me the way out...”

“How easy it is, Doctor, to be a philosopher on paper, and how difficult in real life!”

“Anna Petrovna (to Shabelsky): You can't make a simple joke without an injection of venom. You are a poisonous man. Joking apart, Count, you're very poisonous. It's hideously boring to live with you. You're always grumpy, complaining, you find everyone bad, good for nothing. Tell me frankly, Count, did you ever speak well of anyone?”

“Shabelsky: I'd go into the flames of hell, into the jaws of the crocodile, just so as not to stay here. I am bored.I've become dulled from boredom. I've got on everyone's nerves. You leave me at home so she isn't bored alone, but I've made her life hell, I've eaten her up!”

“Every coming year is as bad as the previous one, the only difference being that in most cases it is even worse.”