20 quotes
The Complexity of Love and Morality
Countess Lydia
Your husband is a saint and we must all cherish him for Russia's sake.
Countess Nordston
I'd call on her if she'd only broken the law. But she broke the rules!
Levin
Sensual desire indulged for its own sake is the misuse of something sacred.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Late Night Conversation Between Anna and Karenin
Karenin
I stayed up to talk to you.
Anna
What about? It's late. Where's Annushka?
Karenin
I sent her off.
Anna
Well, if you want to talk, but we should go to bed.
Karenin
I must warn you of something.
Anna
Warn me? Oh, it's really rather late.
Karenin
I wish to warn you that you may inadvertently, by indiscretion and carelessness, give the world occasion to talk about you.
Anna
I'm not a committee. Please say what you want to tell me.
Karenin
You and Count Vronsky attracted attention tonight.
Anna
Oh, you don't like it when I don't talk to people, and you don't like it when I do.
Karenin
I didn't notice anything, myself. But I saw that everyone else noticed. I consider jealousy to be insulting to you and degrading to me. I have no right to inquire into your feelings. They concern only your conscience. But it's my duty to remind you that we are bound together by God, and this bond can only be broken by a crime against God.
Anna
I have nothing to say to you.
Karenin
And you have a son.
Anna
And I'm tired.
Karenin
If I am wrong, I ask your pardon.
Anna
I don't know what you're talking about, and it's really too late for this. Excuse me, please.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Plea for Forgiveness and Despair
Anna Karenina
Oh, God! Oh, forgive me! It's the end of everything. I've got nothing left except you, remember that.
[when she and Count Vronsky having sex]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conflict of Emotions and Expectations
Vronsky
Were you glad to see me or not?
Anna
This must stop. You make me feel as if I were guilty of something.
Vronsky
What do you want me to do?
Anna
I want you to go to Moscow and beg Kitty to forgive you.
Vronsky
No, that's not what you want. Moscow? I can do better than that. Tonight I refused a posting to Tashkent. I can change my mind, and you'll never see me again.
Anna
If you have any thought for me, you will give me back my peace.
Vronsky
I have no peace to give. There can be no peace for us— only misery or the greatest happiness.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Sin Against Self-Destruction
Alexi Karenin
It would be a sin to help you destroy yourself.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conflicted Feelings in a Love Triangle
Vronsky
Can I be of service to you?
Anna
Why are you leaving Moscow?
Vronsky
What else can I do? I have to be where you are.
Anna
Stop that's enough. Go back to Kitty.
Vronsky
No
Anna
This is wrong
Vronsky
It makes no difference
Anna
You have no right
Vronsky
It makes no difference
Anna
You must forget me, if you are a good man you'll forget everything
Vronsky
And you, will you forget?
Anna
Yes
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embracing Identity and Confronting Judgment
Anna Karenina
I am not ashamed of who I am or what I've done. Are you ashamed for me?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confronting Expectations in St. Petersburg Society
Dolly
Kitty's coming by to see you. She's all grown-up, and a bit frightened of you — the belle of St. Petersburg society!
Anna
Is that who I am? Dolly... Stiva has told me. Dolly, I'm so sorry from the bottom of my heart.
[Dolly bursts into tears. Anna embraces her.]
Dolly
I don't know what to do.
Anna
I know, I know.
Dolly
I can't bear to be with him. And he doesn't care, he's got what he wants.
Anna
What he wants is you. He loves you, Dolly. You and the children are everything to him.
Dolly
Are we? And there is room for a governess?
Anna
That was shameful, disgraceful. But it was not love. It was the animal in man, not the soul. Stiva's remorse is from the soul.
Dolly
What about me? Does his remorse make it easier for me?
Anna
I know you are suffering. But, Dolly, you must tell me... is there enough love left in your heart... enough to forgive him?
Dolly
When I think of them together, I can't forgive him, no!
Anna
My poor lamb. So you'd rather accept your fate...
Dolly
My fate? But I haven't done anything! It’s him who's—
Anna
Do you love him, Dolly? You love him, and he loves you, but you can't forgive, so your lives must continue like this forever, with both of you wretched.
[Dolly nods tearfully.]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conditions of Marriage and Social Reputation
Alexi Karenin
I will not have a scandal. Therefore... You will not see... this man again. You will behave in such a way that nothing is known against you, by society or by the servants. In return, you will keep the privileges of a wife — and the duties.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Dance Proposal at the Opera
Vronsky
Dance with me.
Anna
I am not used to being spoken to like that by a man I met once at a railway station.
Vronsky
I dare say, but if I'm not to dance with you, I'm getting out of this operetta and going home.
Anna
Then, for Kitty’s sake.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Chance Encounter in Society
Anna
It's the first time I've left my little boy.
Countess Vronsky
So you are leaving your son and I am returning to mine. I am Countess Vronsky. I've been in St. Petersburg for the christening of a granddaughter — my elder son married Princess Chirkov. You're a charming creature. Why don't I know you?
Anna
I've never been in Moscow society, really.
Countess Vronsky
But you know my name?
Anna
I've heard you mentioned.
Countess Vronsky
Talked about, you mean. Ah, love!
Anna
Was it love?
Countess Vronsky
Always. My sons are ashamed of me. But I'd rather end up wishing I hadn't than end up wishing I had — wouldn't you?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Delightful Reception for Kitty
Kitty
Look at me! I'm receiving for Papa and Maman who are late to dress. It’s my first reception.
Levin
Princess Ekaterina! Delighted, delighted!
Kitty
I'm so pleased you were able to be with us, Konstantin Dmitrich!
[formal]
Levin
Kitty... you look... you look...
Kitty
Stiva told us you were back. How long are you staying?
Levin
I don't know. It depends on you.
Kitty
On me?
Levin
What I mean to say— I came with only one purpose— I want to— will you be my wife? I’m sorry— sorry— wrong moment— but will you?
Kitty
I can't. I'm sorry.
Levin
Yes. It was impossible.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Burden of Jealousy and Duty
Alexi Karenin
I consider jealousy to be insulting to you and degrading to me. I have no right to inquire into your feelings. They concern only your conscience. But it's my duty to remind you we are bound together by God, and this bond can only be broken by a crime against God.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Painful Choice and Its Consequences
Anna Karenina
All I know is that I sent him away, and it's as if I'd shot myself through the heart.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Liberation from the Burden of Love
Alexi Karenin
I thank God that the curse of love is lifted from me.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Opinions on Anna and Karenin's Relationship
Lisa Merkalova
Now, there's a phenomenon, look — Anna's shadow has arrived before Anna!
Anna's Friend
I'm Anna's friend... but this making up one's mind to it in public is not polite to a distinguished man like Karenin.
Princess Myagkaya
In my opinion Karenin is a fool, and Anna is the best of us.
Lisa Merkalova
And we all love you for your contrary opinions, Princess.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conflicted Emotions and Social Observations
Anna
I want you to. I don't care about it.
Vronsky
You should care. Anyway, someone might be watching.
Anna
But I'm damned anyway.
Vronsky
I'm not. I’m blessed.
Anna
You love me.
Vronsky
Yes.
Anna
Only me.
Vronsky
No.
Anna
Apart from Frou-Frou.
Vronsky
Yes.
Anna
But me more than your horse?
Vronsky
Yes.
Anna
Are you happy?
Vronsky
Yes.
Anna
And you love me?
Vronsky
Yes.
Anna
How much?
Vronsky
This much.
Anna
This much?
Vronsky
Yes.
Anna
This much?
Vronsky
Yes.
Anna
This much?
Vronsky
Yes.
Anna
This much? And this much? And this much?
Vronsky
Yes.
Anna
And... this... much ...? So this is love. This.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reflections on Marriage and Love
Anna Karenina
I was eighteen when I got married, but it was not love.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Plea for Forgiveness
Anna Karenina
Oh, God, forgive me!
[last lines]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Conversation About Desires and Contentment
Oblonsky
Ah— potage aux choux a la Russe! Agafia!— if you opened up in Moscow, l'Angleterre would go out of business. Do you want news of Moscow?
[Agafia comes in with the roast fowl.]
Levin
Of Babylon? No.
Oblonsky
You're right, what do you care? You love the country— you've got it. You love agriculturing, and, Lord knows, you've got it. You love shooting— you’ve got it. You've got everything you want!
Levin
All right, go on, then. Have you stopped stealing bread rolls?
Oblonsky
Ballet girl, oriental type. How can I help it?
Levin
So, nothing new to tell me. How is— how are the Shcherbatskys?
Oblonsky
You mean Kitty.
Levin
I... Is she engaged now?
Oblonsky
No. Vronsky went back to St. Petersburg.
Oblonsky
Kitty will be at Ergoshovo visiting Dolly in the summer. You could...
Levin
Oh yes, as if I had time in the summer! And I've got extra land this year at Kashin for the haymaking.
Oblonsky
Kashin? That’s on the Ergoshovo road, isn't it? Won't you call when Kitty is there?
Levin
Especially not then. I humiliated myself once.
Oblonsky
Damn you, Kostya, you love Kitty and you can't forgive her because, first, you funked it, then you bungled it, then you ran away from an eighteen-year-old girl who was made a fool of by a uniform. It's Kitty I'm sorry for— not you!
Levin
Her heart told her no. Did you come to shoot snipe or criticize me?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.