* * * * *

The wife cried.  The husband took her by the shoulders and shook her, and she stopped crying.

* * * * *

After his marriage everything—­politics, literature, society—­did not seem to him as interesting as they had before; but now every trifle concerning his wife and child became a most important matter.

* * * * *

“Why are thy songs so short?” a bird was once asked.  “Is it because thou art short of breath?”

“I have very many songs and I should like to sing them all.”

(A.  Daudet.)

* * * * *

The dog hates the teacher; they tell it not to bark at him; it looks, does not bark, only whimpers with rage.

* * * * *

Faith is a spiritual faculty; animals have not got it; savages and uncivilized people have merely fear and doubt.  Only highly developed natures can have faith.

* * * * *

Death is terrible, but still more terrible is the feeling that you might live for ever and never die.

* * * * *

The public really loves in art that which is banal and long familiar, that to which they have grown accustomed.

* * * * *

A progressive, educated, young, but stingy school guardian inspects the school every day, makes long speeches there, but does not spend a penny on it:  the school is falling to pieces, but he considers himself useful and necessary.  The teacher hates him, but he does not notice it.  The harm is great.  Once the teacher, unable to stand it any longer, facing him with anger and disgust, bursts out swearing at him.

* * * * *

Teacher:  “Poushkin’s centenary should not be celebrated; he did nothing for the church.”

* * * * *

Miss Guitarov (actress).

* * * * *

If you wish to become an optimist and understand life, stop believing what people say and write, observe and discover for yourself.

* * * * *

Husband and wife zealously followed X.’s idea and built up their life according to it as if it were a formula.  Only just before death they asked themselves:  “Perhaps that idea is wrong?  Perhaps the saying ‘mens sana in corpore sano’ is untrue?”

* * * * *

I detest:  a playful Jew, a radical Ukrainian, and a drunken German.

* * * * *

The University brings out all abilities, including stupidity.

* * * * *

Taking into consideration, dear sir, as a result of this view, dear sir....

* * * * *