Whatever a man prays for, he prays for a miracle. Every prayer reduces itself to this: “Great God, grant that twice two be not four.” – Ivan Turgenev
To desire and expect nothing for oneself and to have profound sympathy for others is genuine holiness. – Ivan Turgenev
In days of doubt, in days of dreary musings on my countrys fate, you alone are my comfort and support, oh great, powerful, righteous, and free Russian language! – Ivan Turgenev
In the end, nature is inexorable: it has no reason to hurry and, sooner or later, it takes what belongs to it. Unconsciously and inflexibly obedient to its own laws, it doesnt know art, just as it doesnt know freedom, just as it doesnt know goodness. – Ivan Turgenev