“When performing an autopsy, even the most inveterate spiritualist would have to question where the soul is.”
Letter to A.S. Suvorin (May 7, 1889)
Letters
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Anton Chekhov 222
Russian dramatist, author and physician 1860–1904Related quotes

[sic], Emma's first post to her fan forum http://emmaforums.dark-delusion.net/index.php?showtopic=733

Section 139
The Passionate State Of Mind, and Other Aphorisms (1955)
Context: Compassion is probably the only antitoxin of the soul. Where there is compassion even the most poisonous impulses remain relatively harmless. One would rather see the world run by men who set their hearts on toys but are accessible to pity, than by men animated by lofty ideals whose dedication makes them ruthless. In the chemistry of man's soul, almost all noble attributes — courage, honor, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc. — can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.

Letter to Edward Newenham (20 October 1792) http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=WasFi32.xml&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=155&division=div1, these statements and one from a previous letter to Newenham seem to have become combined and altered into a misquotation of Washington's original statements to read:
1790s
Context: Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated. I was in hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy, which has marked the present age, would at least have reconciled Christians of every denomination so far that we should never again see the religious disputes carried to such a pitch as to endanger the peace of society.

The Gold at the Starbow’s End (p. 349)
Platinum Pohl (2005)

1960s, Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence (1967)
Context: Now, it should be incandescently clear that no one who has any concern for the integrity and life of America today can ignore the present war. If America's soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read: Vietnam. It can never be saved so long as it destroys the deepest hopes of men the world over. So it is that those of us who are yet determined that America will be — are — are led down the path of protest and dissent, working for the health of our land.

Other TV and web appearances, The Enemies of Reason (Richard Dawkins)

The Painter's Love from The London Literary Gazette (14th December 1822)
The Improvisatrice (1824)

A Magazine of People and Possibilities interview (1998)

F 87
Aphorisms (1765-1799), Notebook F (1776-1779)