Mikhail Bulgakov Quotes

What would your good do if evil didn't exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared?

The tongue may hide the truth but the eyes—never!

Everything will turn out right, the world is built on that.

You should never ask anyone for anything. Never- and especially from those who are more powerful than yourself.

Everything passes away-suffering,pain, blood, hunger,pestilence. The sword will pass away too, but the stars will remain when the shadows of our presence and our deeds have vanished from the Earth. There is no man who does not know that. Why, then, will we not turn our eyes toward the stars? Why?

He who never hurries is always on time.

There is no greater misfortune in the world than the loss of reason.

Cowardice is the most terrible of vices.

But what can be done, the one who loves must share the fate of the who is loved.

"We speak different languages, as usual," responded Woland, "but this does not change the things we speak about. Well?..."

But would you kindly ponder this question: What would your good do if evil didn't exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared? After all, shadows are cast by things and people. Here is the shadow of my sword. But shadows also come from trees and living beings. Do you want to strip the earth of all trees and living things just because of your fantasy of enjoying naked light? You're stupid.

Kindness. The only possible method when dealing with a living creature. You'll get nowhere with an animal if you use terror, no matter what its level of development may be. That I have maintained, do maintain and always will maintain. People who think you can use terror are quite wrong. No, no, terror is useless, whatever its colour – white, red or even brown! Terror completely paralyses the nervous system.

Is that vodka?" Margarita asked weakly. The cat jumped up in his seat with indignation. "I beg pardon, my queen," he rasped, "Would I ever allow myself to offer vodka to a lady? This is pure alcohol!

Yes, man is mortal, but that would be only half the trouble. The worst of it is that he's sometimes unexpectedly mortal—there's the trick!

I suppose that in no educational institution can one become an educated person.

No one's fate is of any interest to you except your own.

In order to be in control, you have to have a definite plan for at least a reasonable period of time. So how, may I ask, can man be in control if he can't even draw up a plan for a ridiculously short period of time, say, a thousand years, and is, moreover, unable to ensure his own safety for even the next day?

he was coming to understand he could not come to rectify anything in his life, only forget.

Follow me, reader! Who told you that there is no true, faithful, eternal love in this world! May the liar's vile tongue be cut out! Follow me, my reader, and me alone, and I will show you such a love!

and a fact is the most stubborn thing in the world.

Punch a man on the nose, kick an old man downstairs, shoot somebody or any old thing like that, that’s my job. But argue with women in love—no thank you!

The most amazing combinations can result if you shuffle the pack enough.

Well, as everyone knows, once witchcraft gets started, there's no stopping it.

Why try to pursue what is completed?

just like a murderer jumps of nowhere in an ally, love jumped out in front of us and struck us both at once