The Power of Darkness quotes
The lines readers remember from The Power of Darkness, by Leo Tolstoy.
18 quotes · About the book
Standout lines
Marriage is not that sort of thing, it’s not like ripe raspberries that drop off if not picked in time.
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Where’s the hurry for him to get married?
Marriage is not that sort of thing, it’s not like ripe raspberries that drop off if not picked in time.
If he were to get married, ’twould be a good thing in a way.
Not he is sick that’s ill in bed, but he that sits and waits in dread.
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Oh, Anísya dear, I should think your heart must be heavy. As the saying goes, “
Not he is sick that’s ill in bed, but he that sits and waits in dread.
”
Really, a girl’s modesty reaches only to the door.
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Mother, I heard myself. “I’ll get you a little shawl,” he says, blest if he didn’t; “you shall choose it yourself,” he says. And she got herself up so fine; she put on her velveteen coat and the French shawl.
Really, a girl’s modesty reaches only to the door.
Step over the threshold and it’s forgotten. She is a shameless creature.
Fatness makes even a dog go mad; how’s one not to get spoilt by fat living?
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There now, what d’you call it, one thinks how to make things better, and it gets worse I mean. Riches spoil a man, spoil, I mean.
Fatness makes even a dog go mad; how’s one not to get spoilt by fat living?
Myself now; how I went on with fat living. I drank for three weeks without being sober. I drank my last breeches. When I had nothing left, I gave it up. Now I’ve determined not to. Bother it!
Just as the cattle that have no herdsman are the most mischievous, so with you women—you are the stupidest class!
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Only a tipsy peasant—with the strap perhaps! That’s all the teaching you get! I don’t know who’ll have to answer for you. For a recruit, the drill-sergeant or the corporal has to answer; but for the likes of you there’s no one responsible!
Just as the cattle that have no herdsman are the most mischievous, so with you women—you are the stupidest class!
The most foolish class is yours!
Misery is eating me up completely, so that I care for nothing!
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You think I’m joking? You think I’m drunk? I’m not drunk! Today even drink takes no hold on me! I’m devoured by misery!
Misery is eating me up completely, so that I care for nothing!
Oh, little Marína, it’s only with you I ever lived! Do you remember how we used to while away the nights together at the railway?
All quotes
Act I
Mother Matryóna can see through a brick wall three feet thick.
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Dear me, here’s news! D’you think Mother Matryóna didn’t know? Eh, lassie—Mother Matryóna’s been ground, and ground again, ground fine! This much I can tell you, my jewel:
Mother Matryóna can see through a brick wall three feet thick.
I know it all, my jewel! I know what young wives need sleeping draughts for, so I’ve brought some along. Unties a knot in her handkerchief and brings out paper-packets.
Mother Matryóna’s been ground, and ground again, ground fine!
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Dear me, here’s news! D’you think Mother Matryóna didn’t know? Eh, lassie—
Mother Matryóna’s been ground, and ground again, ground fine!
This much I can tell you, my jewel: Mother Matryóna can see through a brick wall three feet thick. I know it all, my jewel! I know what young wives need sleeping draughts for, so I’ve brought some along.
Marriage is not that sort of thing, it’s not like ripe raspberries that drop off if not picked in time.
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Where’s the hurry for him to get married?
Marriage is not that sort of thing, it’s not like ripe raspberries that drop off if not picked in time.
If he were to get married, ’twould be a good thing in a way.
A daughter-in-law’s not like a shoe, you can’t kick her off.
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You know, Daddy Akím, if that’s how things are, there’s no reason for him to marry her.
A daughter-in-law’s not like a shoe, you can’t kick her off.
Excitedly. It’s false, old woman, it’s what d’you call it, false; I mean, about the girl; false! ’Cos why? The lass is a good lass, a very good lass, you know. I’m sorry, sorry for the lassie, I mean.
Act II
Not he is sick that’s ill in bed, but he that sits and waits in dread.
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Oh, Anísya dear, I should think your heart must be heavy. As the saying goes, “
Not he is sick that’s ill in bed, but he that sits and waits in dread.
”
You see, the vessel was not sound, so the wine trickled out.
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Four of ’em. What decent girl would have him! Well, so he’s taken her, and she’s glad.
You see, the vessel was not sound, so the wine trickled out.
Oh my! And what do people say to it? And he, a rich peasant!
Oh, Nikíta darling! he’s sent for his sister, and wants to give it to her.
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No fear, he’ll not hide it …
Oh, Nikíta darling! he’s sent for his sister, and wants to give it to her.
It will be a bad lookout for us. How are we going to live, if he gives her the money? They’ll turn me out of the house! You try and manage somehow! You said he went to the shed last night.
Act III
Really, a girl’s modesty reaches only to the door.
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Mother, I heard myself. “I’ll get you a little shawl,” he says, blest if he didn’t; “you shall choose it yourself,” he says. And she got herself up so fine; she put on her velveteen coat and the French shawl.
Really, a girl’s modesty reaches only to the door.
Step over the threshold and it’s forgotten. She is a shameless creature.
Fatness makes even a dog go mad; how’s one not to get spoilt by fat living?
Show the passage
There now, what d’you call it, one thinks how to make things better, and it gets worse I mean. Riches spoil a man, spoil, I mean.
Fatness makes even a dog go mad; how’s one not to get spoilt by fat living?
Myself now; how I went on with fat living. I drank for three weeks without being sober. I drank my last breeches. When I had nothing left, I gave it up. Now I’ve determined not to. Bother it!
You’re in your riches same as in a net—you’re in a net, I mean.
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Eh! There he goes rambling! Come to the table.
You’re in your riches same as in a net—you’re in a net, I mean.
Ah, Nikíta, it’s the soul that God needs!
Ah, Nikíta, it’s the soul that God needs!
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You’re in your riches same as in a net—you’re in a net, I mean.
Ah, Nikíta, it’s the soul that God needs!
Now really, what right have you to reprove me in my own house? Why do you keep on at me? Am I a child that you can pull by the hair? Nowadays those things have been dropped!
Oh, it’s dull, it’s dull!
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Lies down on the bench.
Oh, it’s dull, it’s dull!
To Akoulína. Where’s the concertina?
Act IV
Mother earth will not blab to anyone; she’ll keep it close.
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The rascals must needs know everything. And the policeman went by this evening. Well then, you see gives him the spade, you get down into the cellar and dig a hole right in the corner; the earth is soft there, and you’ll smooth it over.
Mother earth will not blab to anyone; she’ll keep it close.
Go then; go, dear.
As well be hung for a sheep as a lamb!
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Now stop! Oh what people! You’d better be quick. …
As well be hung for a sheep as a lamb!
Goes towards the cellar.
If you know how to amuse yourself, you must know how to hide the consequences.
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Yes, that’s just it, honey.
If you know how to amuse yourself, you must know how to hide the consequences.
Still excited. He’s trampled on me … he and his slut! But it’s enough! I’m not going to be the only one! Let him also be a murderer! Then he’ll know how it feels!
Variation
They’re like blind puppies, creeping about and poking their noses into the dung-heap.
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A peasant—he may learn something at the pub, or maybe in prison, or in the army—as I did. But a woman? Let alone about God, she doesn’t even know rightly what Friday it is! Friday! Friday! But ask her what’s Friday? She don’t know!
They’re like blind puppies, creeping about and poking their noses into the dung-heap.
… All they know are their silly songs. Ho, ho, ho, ho! But what they mean by ho-ho, they don’t know themselves!
Just as the cattle that have no herdsman are the most mischievous, so with you women—you are the stupidest class!
Show the passage
Only a tipsy peasant—with the strap perhaps! That’s all the teaching you get! I don’t know who’ll have to answer for you. For a recruit, the drill-sergeant or the corporal has to answer; but for the likes of you there’s no one responsible!
Just as the cattle that have no herdsman are the most mischievous, so with you women—you are the stupidest class!
The most foolish class is yours!
Act V, Scene I
Misery is eating me up completely, so that I care for nothing!
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You think I’m joking? You think I’m drunk? I’m not drunk! Today even drink takes no hold on me! I’m devoured by misery!
Misery is eating me up completely, so that I care for nothing!
Oh, little Marína, it’s only with you I ever lived! Do you remember how we used to while away the nights together at the railway?
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