Fyodor Dostoevsky — Quote from The Brothers Karamazov
“Nothing has ever been more insupportable for a man and a human society than freedom.”
The Brothers Karamazov (1880)
Concepts: freedom, conformity, totalitarianism
Resonant Quotes
- “A comfortable, smooth, reasonable, democratic unfreedom prevails in advanced ...” — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man Marcuse's analysis reveals how advanced industrial society resolves Dostoevsky's existential problem by making unfree...
- “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convi...” — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism These quotes form a profound dialogue about totalitarianism's psychological appeal, with Dostoevsky identifying freed...
- “The so-called consumer society and the politics of corporate capitalism have ...” — Herbert Marcuse, An Essay on Liberation Marcuse's concept of libidinal ties to commodity forms provides a psychoanalytic explanation for Dostoevsky's insight...
- “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face ...” — George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four Orwell's dystopian vision and Dostoevsky's theological insight both recognize how humans may willingly surrender to o...
- “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convi...” — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism Arendt's analysis of how totalitarianism exploits epistemological confusion perfectly complements Dostoevsky's insigh...
- “Under conditions of tyranny it is far easier to act than to think.” — Hannah Arendt, The Human Condition Dostoevsky's insight into humanity's flight from freedom explains why Arendt's observation holds true—people choose u...
- “Free election of masters does not abolish the masters or the slaves.” — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man Together they illuminate why false freedom persists—Marcuse showing how electoral choice maintains domination, Dostoe...
- “The criterion for free choice can never be an absolute one, but neither is it...” — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man Both reveal why people accept false forms of freedom—Marcuse through consumer choice that maintains control, Dostoevs...