"On his way home from the high school, Pyotr Demyanitch went into a general shop and bought a mouse-trap for fifteen kopecks."

"What's the matter ? You don't look like yourself !" "It's because I am so delighted, Mamma ! Do you know, now all Russia knows of me !"

"My holy of holies is the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and the most absolute freedom."

"Your sensitive, responsive soul is seeking to escape from the maze of... Yes, the struggle is terrific, titanic. But do not lose heart !"

"The truly gifted always remain in obscurity amongst the crowd and shun as much as possible the display of their talents."

[Text] "Vanka Zhukov, a boy of nine, who had been for three months apprenticed to Alyahin the shoemaker, was sitting up on Christmas Eve..."

"A group of pleasant people in idyllic surroundings, hopelessly at odds with themselves and with one another."

"- Gentlemen, I stake two million !" "- Agreed ! You stake your millions and I stake my freedom !" said the young man."

[Essay] "Chekhov possessed a practical wisdom that enabled him to care for those he loved and to help others."

"Tolstoy called Chekhov, ­­and rightly so, "an artist of life". (...)"