Book Quotes
Which Anna Karenina quote best explains Tolstoy's idea of "light and shadow"?
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow."
How does Karenin's "to love those one hates is impossible" reveal his character?
"Love those that hate you, but to love those one hates is impossible."
Why does Rebecca say she refuses to sell herself for coin in The Blade of Milan?
"I don't have two grossi to my name, and I refuse to sell myself for coin ever again."
Which Anna Karenina Quote Captures Oblonsky's Love of Life?
"I don't count life as life without love."
Why does Anna Karenina begin with "Happy families are all alike"?
"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
What the Oblonskys' House Quote Reveals in Anna Karenina
"Everything was in confusion in the Oblonskys' house."
What does "The world is a bigger place than the stews" mean in The Blade of Milan?
"The world is a bigger place than the stews. It would be a shame to die here."
Famous Book Quotes, Explained
Some lines from books do more than sound beautiful. They carry a character, an argument, or a moment in history. This collection gathers famous book quotes and looks at why they still hold their force.