The Bet — Vocabulary
Anton Chekhov
translated by Garnett
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And I despise your books, I despise wisdom and the blessings of this world.†4 more

Theology and histories of religion followed the Gospels.†1 more

It seemed strange to the banker that a man who in four years had mastered six hundred learned volumes should waste nearly a year over one thin book easy of comprehension.†

"If you mean that in earnest," said the young man, "I'll take the bet, but I would stay not five but fifteen years."†

It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage.†

In the second half of the sixth year the prisoner began zealously studying languages, philosophy, and history.†

It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage.†

In the first year the books he sent for were principally of a light character; novels with a complicated love plot, sensational and fantastic stories, and so on.†

In the course of four years some six hundred volumes were procured at his request.†

To deprive myself of the right to the money I shall go out from here five hours before the time fixed, and so break the compact....†

In the fifth year music was audible again, and the prisoner asked for wine.†

You have taken lies for truth, and hideousness for beauty.†

You may be proud, wise, and fine, but death will wipe you off the face of the earth as though you were no more than mice burrowing under the floor, and your posterity, your history, your immortal geniuses will burn or freeze together with the earthly globe.†

The slightest attempt on his part to break the conditions, if only two minutes before the end, released the banker from the obligation to pay him two millions.†

You may be proud, wise, and fine, but death will wipe you off the face of the earth as though you were no more than mice burrowing under the floor, and your posterity, your history, your immortal geniuses will burn or freeze together with the earthly globe.†

On my part it was the caprice of a pampered man, and on his part simple greed for money....†

And I have only to take this half-dead man, throw him on the bed, stifle him a little with the pillow, and the most conscientious expert would find no sign of a violent death.†

I have not tried either the death penalty or imprisonment for life, but if one may judge a priori, the death penalty is more moral and more humane than imprisonment for life.†

He will take my last penny from me, he will marry, will enjoy life, will gamble on the Exchange; while I shall look at him with envy like a beggar, and hear from him every day the same sentence: "I am indebted to you for the happiness of my life, let me help you!"

It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage.†