Mikhail Bulgakov Quotes & Sayings

Margarita was never short of money. She could buy whatever she liked. Her husband had plenty of interesting friends. Margarita never had to cook. Margarita knew nothing of the horrors of living in a shared flat. In short ... was she happy? Not for a moment. — Mikhail Bulgakov

No ID, no person — Mikhail Bulgakov

In front of me 327 pages of the manuscript [Master and Margarita] (about 22 chapters). The most important remains - editing, and it's going to be hard. I will have to pay close attention to details. Maybe even re-write some things ... 'What's its future?' you ask? I don't know. Possibly, you will store the manuscript in one of the drawers, next to my 'killed' plays, and occasionally it will be in your thoughts. Then again, you don't know the future. My own judgement of the book is already made and I think it truly deserves being hidden away in the darkness of some chest.
[Bulgakov from Moscow to his wife on June 15 1938] — Mikhail Bulgakov

I, the unfortunate Doctor Polyakov, who became addicted to morphine in February of this year, warn anyone who may suffer the same fate not to attempt to replace morphine with cocaine. Cocaine is a most foul and insidious poison. Yesterday Anna barely managed to revive me with camphor injections and today I am half dead. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Annushka has already bought the sunflower oil, and has not only bought it, but has already spilled it. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Man is mortal and, as has rightly been said, unexpectedly mortal. — Mikhail Bulgakov

What would your good be doing if there were no evil, and what would the earth look like if shadows disappeared from it? After all, shadows are cast by objects and people. There is the shadow of my sword. But there are also shadows of trees and living creatures. Would you like to denude the earth of all the trees and all the living beings in order to satisfy your fantasy of rejoicing in the naked light? — Mikhail Bulgakov

But this is what disturbs me: if there is no God, then, the question is, who is in control of man's life and the whole order of things on earth? — Mikhail Bulgakov

Gods, my gods! How sad the earth is at eventide! How mysterious are the mists over the swamps. Anyone who has wandered in these mists, who has suffered a great deal before death, or flown above the earth, bearing a burden beyond his strength knows this. Someone who is exhausted knows this. And without regret he forsakes the mists of the earth, its swamps and rivers, and sinks into the arms of death with a light heart knowing that death alone . . . — Mikhail Bulgakov

You were right," said the Master impressed by the neatness of Korovyov's work, "when you said: no documents, no person. So that means I don't exist since I don't have any documents. — Mikhail Bulgakov

In the first few seconds an aching sadness wrenched his heart, but it soon gave way to a feeling of sweet disquiet, the excitement of gypsy wanderlust — Mikhail Bulgakov

Azazello begged her not to worry, assuring her that he had seen not only naked women but also women with their skin flayed clean off — Mikhail Bulgakov

Have just been run over by tram-car at Patriarch's Ponds funeral Friday three pm come. Berlioz. — Mikhail Bulgakov

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

Actually, I do happen to resemble a hallucination. Kindly note my silhouette in the moonlight." The cat climbed into the shaft of moonlight and wanted to keep talking but was asked to be quiet. "Very well, I shall be silent," he replied, "I shall be a silent hallucination. — Mikhail Bulgakov

The buckets emptied quickly, and men from different squads took turns bringing water from the gully that lay towards the city, where, in the feeble shade of emaciated mulberries, a muddy stream lived out its last days in the diabolical heat. — Mikhail Bulgakov

You pronounced your words as if you don't acknowledge the shadows, or the evil either. Would you be so kind as to give a little thought to the question of what your good would be doing if evil did not exist, and how the earth would look if the shadows were to disappear from it? — Mikhail Bulgakov

Aren't there enough plays already? There are such lovely plays and so many of them. If you were to start playing them you couldn't get through them all in twenty years. Why do you want to write? It must be so upsetting! — Mikhail Bulgakov

She had a passion for all people who did anything to perfection. — Mikhail Bulgakov

I was not even aware of getting dressed, which was no simple matter: trousers and shirt, felt boots, over my shirt a leather jerkin, then an overcoat topped by a sheepskin, fur hat, and my bag containing caffeine, camphor, morphine, adrenalin, clamps, sterile dressings, hypodermic, probe, a Browning automatic, cigarettes, matches, watch, stethoscope. — Mikhail Bulgakov

The darkness that had come in from the Mediterranean covered the city so detested by the procurator ... — Mikhail Bulgakov

I hereby certify that the bearer of this note, Nikolai Ivanovich, spent the night in question at Satan's ball, having been lured there in a transportational capacity ... Hella, put in parentheses! And write 'hog.' Signed- Behemoth. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Not fooling around, not bothering nobody, just sitting here mending the Primus," said the cat with a hostile frown, "and, moreover, I consider it my duty to warn you that the cat is an ancient, inviolable animal. — Mikhail Bulgakov

WHEN A MAN WITH A LITTLE POINTED BEARD, robed in a white coat, came out into the waiting room of the renowned psychiatric clinic recently completed on a river bank outside Moscow, it was half-past one in the morning. Three hospital orderlies had their eyes glued to Ivan Nikolayevich, who was sitting on a couch. — Mikhail Bulgakov

The time had come to act, to drink the bitter cup of responsibility. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Well, now,' the latter replied pensively, 'they're people like any other people ... they love money, but that has always been so ... Mankind loves money, whatever it's made of -leather, paper, bronze, gold. Well, they're light-minded ... well, what of it ... mercy sometimes knocks at their hearts ... ordinary people ... In general, reminiscent of the former ones ... only the housing problem has corrupted them ... ' Chapter 12 — Mikhail Bulgakov

Then he hung up, the scoundrel! — Mikhail Bulgakov

I'm a specialist in black magic — Mikhail Bulgakov

Snow, the Dnieper ... there's no more beautiful city in the world than Kiev. — Mikhail Bulgakov

What point is there in dying in a ward, listening to the moans and rasps of the terminally ill? Wouldn't it be better to spend the twenty-seven thousand on a banquet, then, after taking poison, depart for the other world to the sound of violins, surrounded by intoxicated beautiful women and dashing friends? — Mikhail Bulgakov

It is hereby certified that the bearer, Nikolai Ivanovich, spent the
said night at Satan's ball, having been summoned there in the capacity of a means of transportation ... make a parenthesis, Hella, in the parenthesis put "hog". Signed - Behemoth. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Yes, man is mortal, but that isn't so bad. What's bad is that sometimes he's unexpectedly mortal, that's the rub. And, in general, he can't even say in the morning what he'll be doing that very same night. — Mikhail Bulgakov

How sad, ye Gods, how sad the world is at evening, how mysterious the mists over the swamps! You will know it when you have wandered astray in those mists, when you have suffered greatly before dying, when you have walked through the world carrying an unbearable burden. You know it too when you are weary and ready to leave this earth without regret; its mists; its swamps and its rivers; ready to give yourself into the arms of death with a light heart, knowing that death alone can comfort you. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Great and terrible was the year of Our Lord 1918, of the Revolution the second. Its summer abundant with warmth and sun, its winter and snow, highest in its heaven stood two stars: the shepherds' star, eventide Venus; and Mars- quivering, red. But in days of blood and of peace the years fly like an arrow and the thick frost of a hoary white December, season of Christmas trees, Santa Claus, joy and glittering snow, overtook the young Turbins unawares. For the reigning head of the family, their adored mother, was no longer with them. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Eh, Nikanor Ivanovich!' the unknown man exclaimed soulfully. 'What are official and unofficial persons? It all depends on your point of view on the subject. It's all fluctuating and relative, Nikanor Ivanovich. Today I'm a unofficial person, and tomorrow, lo and behold, I'm an official one! And it happens the other way round -oh, how it does! - Chapter 9 — Mikhail Bulgakov

But The Master and Margarita is true to the broader sense of the novel as a freely developing form embodied in the works of Dostoevsky and Gogol, of Swift and Sterne, of Cervantes, Rabelais and Apuleius. — Mikhail Bulgakov

And a fact is the most stubborn thing in the world. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Remove the document - and you remove the man. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Do I express my thoughts lucidly?
I think I do.
What is my life? An absurdity. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Never ask for anything! Never for anything, and especially from those who are stronger than you. They'll make the offer themselves, and give everything themselves. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Obedient to constraint, I was compelled to submit — Mikhail Bulgakov

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

Clever people have been pointing out for a long time that happiness is like good health: when it's there, you don't notice it. But when the years have passed, how you do remember happiness, oh, how you do remember it! — Mikhail Bulgakov

I must give due praise to the man who first extracted morphine from poppyheads. He was a true benefactor of mankind. The pain stopped seven minutes after the injection. Interesting: the pain passed over me in ceaseless waves, so that I had to gasp for breath, as though a red-hot crowbar were being thrust into my stomach and rotated. Four minutes after the injection I was able to distinguish the wave-like nature of the pain. — Mikhail Bulgakov

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

But worse things were about to be found in the bedroom: on the jeweller's wife's ottoman, in a casual pose, sprawled a third party- namely, a black cat of uncanny size, with a glass of vodka in one paw and a fork, on which he had managed to spear a pickled mushroom, in the other. , The Master and Magarita — Mikhail Bulgakov

Soon the room had that desolate look that comes from the chaos of packing up to go away and, worse, from removing the shade from the lamp. Never, never take the shade off a lamp. A lampshade is something sacred. Scuttle away like a rat from danger and into the unknown. Read or doze beside your lampshade; let the storm howl outside and wait until they come for you. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Why bother to learn to read when you can smell meat a mile away? Chapter 2 — Mikhail Bulgakov

One can find time for everything if one is never in a hurry,' explained his host didactically. Chapter 3 — Mikhail Bulgakov

Ruin, therefore, is not caused by lavatories but it's something that starts in people's heads. So when these clowns start shouting "Stop the ruin!" - I laugh!' 'I swear to you, I find it laughable! Every one of them needs to hit himself on the back of the head and then when he has knocked all the hallucinations out of himself and gets on with sweeping out backyards - which is his real job - all this "ruin" will automatically disappear — Mikhail Bulgakov

Don't be afraid, your majesty ... Don't be afraid, your majesty, the blood has long since drained away into the earth and grapes have grown on the spot. — Mikhail Bulgakov

A dog's spirit dies hard. — Mikhail Bulgakov

All the words he used in the beginning were gutter words. He heard them and stored them in his brain. Now, as I walk in the street, I look at dogs with secret horror. WHo knows what is hidden in their heads? — Mikhail Bulgakov

You're not Dostoevsky,' said the citizeness, who was getting muddled by Koroviev. Well, who knows, who knows,' he replied.
'Dostoevsky's dead,' said the citizeness, but somehow not very confidently.
'I protest!' Behemoth exclaimed hotly. 'Dostoevsky is immortal! — Mikhail Bulgakov

I don't have any special talents, just an ordinary desire to live like a human being. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Why do smart people exist, if not to figure out convoluted problems? — Mikhail Bulgakov

This twenty-year-old boy was distinguished from childhood by strange qualities, a dreamer and an eccentric. A girl fell in love with him, and he went and sold her to a brothel ... — Mikhail Bulgakov

Once more and for the last time, the moon flashed above and broke into pieces, and then everything went black. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Sweetly, albeit hoarsely and with a burr, the girl started singing something scarcely comprehensible, but, judging by the women's faces in the stalls, very seductive:
Guerlain, Chanel no 5, Mitsuko, Narcissus noir, evening dresses, cocktail dresses.. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Once upon a time there was a lady. She had no children, and no happiness either. And at first she cried for a long time, but then she became wicked ... — Mikhail Bulgakov

Literature has become my life. — Mikhail Bulgakov

In short, you sensed that she was there, Moscow, right there, around the turn, and about to heave herself upon you and engulf you. — Mikhail Bulgakov

... oh, you faithless, unfortunate man! ... Because of you I spent the whole night yesterday shivering and naked. I lost my nature and replaced it with a new one, I spent several months sitting in a dark closet thinking about one thing, about the storm over Yershalaim, I cried my eyes out, and now, when happiness has befallen us, you drive me away! Well, then I'll go, I'll go, but you should know that you are a cruel man! They've devastated your soul! — Mikhail Bulgakov

Everyone listened to this amusing narrative with great interest, and the moment that Behemoth concluded it, they all shouted in unison: 'Lies! — Mikhail Bulgakov

These sorrowful musings on my imperfection were nothing compared to the awful realization that I had gained precisely nothing from reading the books of the very best writers; no avenues had opened up, no light gleamed ahead and it had done nothing but depress me. Wormlike, the awful thought began to gnaw at my heart that I should never make a writer. — Mikhail Bulgakov

The most uncomplicated thing of all!' he replied. 'For someone well acquainted with the fifth dimension, it costs nothing to expand space to the desired proportions. I'll say more, respected lady - to devil knows what proportions! I, however,' Koroviev went on chattering, 'have known people who had no idea, not only of the fifth dimension, but generally of anything at all, and who nevertheless performed absolute wonders in expanding their space. Thus, for instance, one city-dweller, as I've been told, having obtained a three-room apartment on Zemlyanoy Val, transformed it instantly, without any fifth dimension or other things that addle the brain, into a four-room apartment by dividing one room in half with a partition. — Mikhail Bulgakov

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? — Mikhail Bulgakov

His swearing is methodical, continuous, and apparently entirely senseless. — Mikhail Bulgakov

The toads bellowed mournfully, and the twilight was enrobing the professor. Here it was ... the night. Moscow ... white lamps turning on somewhere outside ... Lost and miserable, Pankrat stood fearfully at attention, arms at his sides ... — Mikhail Bulgakov

There is absolutely no necessity to learn how to read; meat smells a mile off, anyway. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Don't be afraid, Queen ... don't be afraid, Queen, the blood has long since gone into the earth. And where it was spilled, grapevines are already growing. — Mikhail Bulgakov

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

Bulgakov always loved clowning and agreed with E. T. A. Hoffmann that irony and buffoonery are expressions of 'the deepest contemplation of life in all its conditionality — Mikhail Bulgakov

Cowardice is the greatest sin. — Mikhail Bulgakov

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. — Mikhail Bulgakov

Too bad!' the feisty poet responded.
'Yes, too bad!' the stranger agreed, his eye flashing, and went on: 'But here is a question that is troubling me: if there is no God, then, one may ask, who governs human life and, in general, the whole order on earth?'
'Man governs it himself' Homeless angrily hastened to reply to this admittedly none-too-clear question.
'Pardon me,' the stranger responded gently, 'but in order to govern, one needs, after all, to have a precise plan for a certain, at least somewhat decent, length of time. Allow me to ask you, then, how can man govern, if he is not only deprived of the opportunity of making a plan for at least some ridiculously short period -well, say, a thousand years- but cannot even vouch for his own tomorrow? — Mikhail Bulgakov

What is all this? Get him out of here, devil take me!" And that one, imagine, smiles and says: "Devil take you? That, in fact, can be done!" And - bang! — Mikhail Bulgakov

You are not Dostoevsky,' said the woman ...
'You never can tell ... ' he answered.
'Dostoevsky is dead,' the woman said, a bit uncertainly.
'I protest!' he said with heat, 'Dostoevsky is immortal! — Mikhail Bulgakov

But why don't you take him with you into the light?
He does not deserve the light, he deserves peace — Mikhail Bulgakov

Why try to pursue what is completed? — Mikhail Bulgakov

Cowardice was undoubtedly one of the most terrible vices - thus spoke Yeshua Ha-Nozri. 'No, philosopher, I disagree with you: it is the most terrible vice! — Mikhail Bulgakov

She was carrying these revolting, disturbing yellow flowers. God knows what they're called, but for some reason they're the first to appear in Moscow. And these flowers stood out very distinctly from her black spring coat. She was carrying yellow flowers! — Mikhail Bulgakov

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? — Mikhail Bulgakov

Who ever told you there is no such thing in the world as real, true, everlasting love? May the liar have his despicable tongue cut out! — Mikhail Bulgakov

He's clever,' thought Ivan,' I must admit there are some smart people even among the intelligentsia — Mikhail Bulgakov

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

The hope that there she would manage to regain her happiness made her fearless — Mikhail Bulgakov

She gave a little jump and hung in the air a little way above the rug, then she slowly began to be drawn downwards and dropped .. — Mikhail Bulgakov

This whole speech, extremely silly, tactless and probably politically dangerous, made Pavel Iosifovich shake with rage, but, strange as it might seem, it could be seen from the eyes of the crowd of customers that had gathered that it had aroused sympathy in very many people! — Mikhail Bulgakov

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

My writing is progressing slowly, but at least it's moving forward. I'm sure that's the case. The only problem is that I'm never absolutely certain that what I've written is any good. — Mikhail Bulgakov

I challenge you to a duel! screamed the cat, sailing over their heads on the swinging chandelier. — Mikhail Bulgakov

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

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

Twelve men conducted the investigation, gathering as on a knitting-needle the accursed stitches of this complicated case all over Moscow. — Mikhail Bulgakov

It must be added that from his first words the foreigner made a repellent impression on the poet, but Berlioz rather liked him - that is, not liked but ... how to put it ... was interested, or whatever. — Mikhail Bulgakov

You spoke your words as though you denied the very existence of the shadows or of evil. Think, now: where would your good be if there were no evil and what would the world look like without shadow? — Mikhail Bulgakov

Not causing trouble, not touching anything, fixing the primus. — Mikhail Bulgakov

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! — Mikhail Bulgakov

Manuscripts do not burn. — Mikhail Bulgakov