All 50 Uses of

contrary

in

The Brothers Karamazov

In his childhood and youth he was by no means expansive, and talked little indeed, but not from shyness or a sullen unsociability; quite the contrary, from something different, from a sort of inner preoccupation entirely personal and unconcerned with other people, but so important to him that he seemed, as it were, to forget others on account of it.†
Chpt 1

On the contrary he was bright and good-tempered.
Chpt 1 (definition 1)

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

And to shelter him would be no burden, but, on the contrary, would probably be looked on as a pleasure.
Chpt 1 (definition 1)

On the contrary, Alyosha was at this time a well-grown, red-cheeked, clear-eyed lad of nineteen, radiant with health.
Chpt 1 (definition 1)

On the contrary, he was always almost gay.
Chpt 1 (definition 1)

On the contrary, I'm just going.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)

I maintain, on the contrary, that the Church ought to include the whole State, and not simply to occupy a corner in it, and, if this is, for some reason, impossible at present, then it ought, in reality, to be set up as the direct and chief aim of the future development of Christian society!
Chpt 2 (definition 1)

In that way (that is, with a view to the future) it is not the Church that should seek a definite position in the State, like 'every social organization,' or as 'an organization of men for religious purposes' (as my opponent calls the Church), but, on the contrary, every earthly State should be, in the end, completely transformed into the Church and should become nothing else but a Church, rejecting every purpose incongruous with the aims of the Church.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)

But Russian hopes and conceptions demand not that the Church should pass as from a lower into a higher type into the State, but, on the contrary, that the State should end by being worthy to become only the Church and nothing else.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)

On the contrary, the State is transformed into the Church, will ascend and become a Church over the whole world—which is the complete opposite of Ultramontanism and Rome, and your interpretation, and is only the glorious destiny ordained for the Orthodox Church.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)

He ended by asserting that for every individual, like ourselves, who does not believe in God or immortality, the moral law of nature must immediately be changed into the exact contrary of the former religious law, and that egoism, even to crime, must become not only lawful but even recognized as the inevitable, the most rational, even honorable outcome of his position.†
Chpt 2

He knew he would play a prominent part of some sort, but Alyosha, who was attached to him, was distressed to see that his friend Rakitin was dishonorable, and quite unconscious of being so himself, considering, on the contrary, that because he would not steal money left on the table he was a man of the highest integrity.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

Not that he was so very much ashamed of himself—quite the contrary perhaps.†
Chpt 2

I have mentioned already that Grigory had detested Adelaida Ivanovna, the first wife of Fyodor Pavlovitch and the mother of Dmitri, and that he had, on the contrary, protected Sofya Ivanovna, the poor "crazy woman," against his master and any one who chanced to speak ill or lightly of her.
Chpt 3 (definition 1)

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

On the contrary, he was conceited and seemed to despise everybody.
Chpt 3 (definition 1)

On the contrary, he was hastening there as though expecting to find guidance from her.
Chpt 3 (definition 1)

Because we have come here and shut ourselves within these walls, we are no holier than those that are outside, but on the contrary, from the very fact of coming here, each of us has confessed to himself that he is worse than others, than all men on earth….
Chpt 4 (definition 1)

Were there not, on the contrary, new grounds for hatred and hostility in their family?
Chpt 4 (definition 1)

Quite the contrary; you behaved like an angel, like an angel.†
Chpt 4

On the contrary, he will do anything you like and in any way you like.
Chpt 4 (definition 1)

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

He is not at all angry, I assure you; on the contrary, he is surprised that you could suppose so.
Chpt 5 (definition 1) *

I don't know about you, Lise, but I consider that I have a sordid soul in many ways, and his soul is not sordid; on the contrary, full of fine feeling….
Chpt 5 (definition 1)

"Ah, Alyosha, on the contrary, it was delightfully right," cried Lise, looking tenderly and happily at him.
Chpt 5 (definition 1)

"On the contrary, I am struck by a coincidence," cried Ivan, warmly and good-humoredly.
Chpt 5 (definition 1)

You know, on the contrary, that Dmitri behaved as though there was an understanding between us.
Chpt 5 (definition 1)

Quite the contrary, they thought they had every right, for Richard had been given to them as a chattel, and they did not even see the necessity of feeding him.†
Chpt 5

No, I have not forgotten Him; on the contrary I've been wondering all the time how it was you did not bring Him in before, for usually all arguments on your side put Him in the foreground.
Chpt 5 (definition 1)

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

"No, no, on the contrary, Father Paissy did once say something rather the same as you …. but of course it's not the same, not a bit the same," Alyosha hastily corrected himself.
Chpt 5 (definition 1)

Not that he forgot himself and was rude; on the contrary, he always spoke very respectfully, yet he had obviously begun to consider—goodness knows why!
Chpt 5 (definition 1)

Later on, of course, I reflected and remembered that she had been very far from laughing at me; on the contrary, she used to turn off any love-making on my part with a jest and begin talking of other subjects; but at that moment I was incapable of reflecting and was all eagerness for revenge.
Chpt 6 (definition 1)

"Let me tell you," she said, "that I am the first not to laugh at you, but on the contrary I thank you with tears and express my respect for you for your action then."
Chpt 6 (definition 1)

Do not think my question frivolous; on the contrary, I have in asking the question a secret motive of my own, which I will perhaps explain to you later on, if it is God's will that we should become more intimately acquainted.
Chpt 6 (definition 1)

And it's no wonder that instead of gaining freedom they have sunk into slavery, and instead of serving the cause of brotherly love and the union of humanity have fallen, on the contrary, into dissension and isolation, as my mysterious visitor and teacher said to me in my youth.
Chpt 6 (definition 1)

Even now this can be done, but it will lead to the grand unity of men in the future, when a man will not seek servants for himself, or desire to turn his fellow creatures into servants as he does now, but on the contrary, will long with his whole heart to be the servant of all, as the Gospel teaches.
Chpt 6 (definition 1)

On the contrary, his friends, as I observed already, seeing him that night apparently so cheerful and talkative, were convinced that there was at least a temporary change for the better in his condition.
Chpt 6 (definition 1)

But before three o'clock in the afternoon that something took place to which I alluded at the end of the last book, something so unexpected by all of us and so contrary to the general hope, that, I repeat, this trivial incident has been minutely remembered to this day in our town and all the surrounding neighborhood.
Chpt 7 (definition 2) *

contrary to = in opposition to

The others, on the contrary, pressed farther back in sudden alarm when the door was noisily flung open.
Chpt 7 (definition 1)

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

Quite the contrary.†
Chpt 7

I must declare, on the contrary, that I have genuine respect for the qualities of his heart.
Chpt 7 (definition 1)

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

On the contrary, he once gave Grushenka a stern and earnest piece of advice.
Chpt 7 (definition 1)

On the contrary, this woman, dreaded above all women, sitting now on his knee, holding him in her arms, aroused in him now a quite different, unexpected, peculiar feeling, a feeling of the intensest and purest interest without a trace of fear, of his former terror.
Chpt 7 (definition 1)

His soul was overflowing but with mingled feelings; no single sensation stood out distinctly; on the contrary, one drove out another in a slow, continual rotation.
Chpt 7 (definition 1)

Quite the contrary, you may make six or seven thousand instead of three.†
Chpt 8

He was trustful, on the contrary.
Chpt 8 (definition 1)

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

On the contrary, a man of lofty feelings, whose love is pure and full of self-sacrifice, may yet hide under tables, bribe the vilest people, and be familiar with the lowest ignominy of spying and eavesdropping.
Chpt 8 (definition 1)

"She's by no means so elderly," he thought, feeling pleased, "on the contrary I should have taken her for her daughter."
Chpt 9 (definition 1)

On the contrary.
Chpt 9 (definition 1)

On the contrary, we'll do everything that lies in our power in that matter.
Chpt 9 (definition 1)

He had, on the contrary, an air of stern and severe indignation with the accused, which gave him an appearance of truthfulness and personal dignity.
Chpt 9 (definition 1)

It was explained further that Mitya had, on the contrary, often told her that he hadn't a farthing.
Chpt 9 (definition 1)

Click For
Best Example Sentences
From Other Sources
Grouped by 5 Meanings

Definitions:

(1) (on the contrary as in: on the contrary)
an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

editor's notes: More rarely, on the contrary is used to oppose an idea contained in what was just said rather than to oppose what was literally said. Here is an example: "I will not pay you for the work. On the contrary, I may sue you for damages." Suing for damages does not oppose not paying, but it does oppose the idea of paying.

(2) (contrary to as in: contrary to)
in opposition to

editor's notes: You could also think of this as meaning, despite, or in spite of, or in conflict with; but since a common meaning of contrary is opposite, you many find it easiest to think of contrary to as in opposition to.

(contrary as in: a contrary idea)
different (perhaps opposite or mutually exclusive)

editor's notes: In formal logic, contrary propositions or contrary arguments describe two things that cannot both be true. They might be described as mutually exclusive. For example, a pet cannot be both a cat and a dog. It doesn't need to be either, but if it is one, it cannot be the other. So the statement that a pet is a cat and the statement that the same pet is a dog, are contrary statements.

contrary in The Brothers Karamazov

contrary

in

The Brothers Karamazov