Quotes from Aleksandr Kuprin

There are three things in the world that are unclear to me, and a fourth one I do not comprehend: the path of an eagle in the sky, a snake on a rock, a ship at sea, and the path of a man to the heart of a woman.

As so many deaf people, he passionately loved opera

Everyone is afraid. But one person falls to pieces from fear, and another person keeps it together. You see: fear remains the same for everyone, but the ability to bear it increases with practice; that is where brave men and heroes come from.

It was this feeling which had impelled him to visit once more those places familiar to his youth, to live over again in memory those dear, painfully sweet recollections of his childhood, overshadowed with a poetical sadness, to wound his soul once more with the sweet grief of recalling that which was for ever past—the irrevocable purity and clearness of his first impressions of life.

It wasn't poverty that drove me on.

the world is really so small that everyone must of necessity meet everyone else

And never believe those who say bad things about animals.

People say: a donkey is stupid. When a man is told that he is not very intelligent, stubborn and lazy he is politely called an ass.

Remember, that on the contrary a donkey is not only an intelligent animal, but also an obedient, polite and hard-working one. But if it's overloaded beyond its capacity or expected to be a race horse, it will stop and say, "I cannot do this. Do whatever you want." And you can beat it all you want – it won't move.

I'd like to know, who is more stupid and stubborn in this case – the donkey or the man?

Intentions are deep waters in a human heart

A word is a spark in the movement of the heart

He always clothed his thoughts in elegant expressions, for a word said well was akin to a gold apple in a goblet of transparent sardonyx, and that was why the words of the wise were as sharp as needles, and as strong as nails, and their creators were all from the same stock.

in great wisdom there was great sadness, and that he who multiplied knowledge also multiplied grief.

A rock is heavy and sand is weighty too, but the anger of a fool is heavier than both.

Love must be like a great tragedy. … Like the greatest mystery in the world! None of mundane comforts, calculations and compromises must touch it.

Makeup peeled off her like plaster from an old Moscow building.

People, these strange animals who walk on their rear paws and are naturally naked, so they have to wear other animal's skins to keep warm, are ridiculously clumsy and helpless.

It is not her fault that among other people love has taken on such shallow form and has been reduced to some basic convenience, to a mere entertainment.

Each woman who loves is a queen, because love is beautiful!

He was married once, but it was so long ago that he forgot about it. Before the war, his wife ran away with an actor, having fallen for his velvet jacket and lace cuffs.

According to the storyteller, the wedding very nearly took place, but at the most important moment, a group of perjurers participating in the case suddenly went on strike, demanding a pay increase.

I am endlessly grateful to you for the mere fact of your existence. I tested myself – this is not an illness, not an obsessive idea – this is love, with which God rewarded me for some reason.

Do not ever believe anyone who tells you that he is not afraid of anything, and that whistling bullets is the sweetest music for him. That man is either a madman or a liar.