“A woman can become a man's friend only in the following stages - first an acquantaince, next a mistress, and only then a friend.”

“A woman can only become a man’s friend in three stages: first she’s an agreeable acquaintance, then a mistress and only after that a friend.”

“All my friends and relatives have always taken a condescending tone to my writing, and never ceased urging me in a friendly way not to give up real work for the sake of scribbling.”

“Only one who loves can remember so well.”

“And only now, when he was gray-haired, had he fallen in love properly, thoroughly, for the first time in his life.”

“Lebedev: A time has come of sorrow and sadness for you. Man, my dear friend, is like a samovar. It doesn't always stand on a shelf in the chill but sometimes they put hot coals in it and it goes psh... psh! This comparison is worthless but you won't think up a cleverer one.”

“To harbor spiteful feelings against ordinary people for not being heroes is possible only for narrow-minded or embittered man.”