Anna Karenina is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Many writers consider Anna Karenina the greatest work of literature ever, and Tolstoy himself called it his first true novel. It was initially released in serial installments from 1873 to 1877 in the periodical The Russian Messenger.
“But the law of loving others could not be discovered by reason, because it is unreasonable.”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Pt. VIII, ch. 13
Source: Anna Karenina (1875–1877; 1878)
Context: Reason has discovered the struggle for existence and the law that I must throttle all those who hinder the satisfaction of my desires. That is the deduction reason makes. But the law of loving others could not be discovered by reason, because it is unreasonable.
“All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Все счастливые семьи похожи друг на друга, каждая несчастливая семья несчастлива по-своему.
Pt. I, ch. 1
Variant translations: Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
All happy families resemble one another; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
Variant: Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
Source: Anna Karenina (1875–1877; 1878)
“The only happy marriages I know are arranged ones.”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Source: Anna Karenina
“Then we should find some artificial inoculation against love, as with smallpox.”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Source: Anna Karenina
“… the more he did nothing, the less time he had to do anything.”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Source: Anna Karenina
“God forgive me everything!’ she said, feeling the impossibility of struggling…”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Source: Anna Karenina
“No one is satisfied with his position, but every one is satisfied with his wit”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Source: Anna Karenina
“I ask one thing: I ask the right to hope and suffer as I do now."
Vronsky”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Source: Ana Karenina
“Respect was invented to cover the empty place where love should be.”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
(voice of Anna) C. Garnett, trans. (New York: 2003), Part 7, Chapter 24 p. 685
Source: Anna Karenina (1875–1877; 1878)
“Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Source: Anna Karenina
“Not one word, not one gesture of yours shall I, could I, ever forget…”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Source: Anna Karenina
“There are as many kinds of love, as there are hearts”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Source: Anna Karenina
“I don't allow myself to doubt myself even for a moment.”
Leo Tolstoy book Anna Karenina
Source: Anna Karenina
