Ahmad+quote+folder+(A+Hero+of+Our+Time)

// ‘What if it does? If I die, I die. It will be small loss to the world, and I’ve had about enough of it myself.’ // // ‘My whole life has been nothing but a series of dismal, unsuccessful attempts to go against heart or reason’ // // ‘Of two friends, one is always the slave of the other, though often neither will admit it. I can never be a slave, and to command in these circumstances is too exacting. For you have to pretend at the same time.’ // // ‘What is happiness but gratified pride? If I thought myself better and more powerful than everyone else in the world, I should be happy.’ // // ‘Passions are merely ideas in their initial stage. They are the property of youth, and anyone who expects to feel their thrill throughout his life is a fool.’ // // ‘When I think of possible, imminent death, I think only of myself. Some people don’t even do that. To hell with the friends who’ll forget me in a day…’ // ‘// The turmoil of life has left me with a few ideas, but no feelings’ // "I'll hazard my life, even my honor, twenty times, but I will not sell my freedom." "This is how the hero of our time must be. He will be characterized either by decisive inaction, or else by futile activity." "I make fun of everything, feelings especially, and this is beginning to alarm her." "I've got an unfortunate character." "For a long time now I've lived by intellect, not feeling." “ If you like I’m still in love with her. I’m greatful to her for a few moments of relative bliss. I’d give my life for her. But she bores me.” It is difficult to convince women of something; one must lead them to believe that they have convinced themselves. …and women, who in the embrace of another man will laugh at me in order that he might not be jealous of the departed Oh women, women! Who really does understand them? // I must confess I don’t really like strong-willed women. That’s not their role in life!’ // “It is difficult to convince women of something; one must lead them to believe that they have convinced themselves” The story of a human soul, even the pettiest of souls, can hardly be less interesting and instructive than the story of a nation
 * Pechorin’s character **
 * Role of women **
 * Structure/Purpose of novel **

// ‘If predestination really exists, why have we been given free-will and reason? Why do we have to give an account of our deeds?’ // // ‘Vulich pulled the trigger. The pistol misfired’ (pg. 151) // // ‘Vulich has been killed’ // “why did fate toss me into the peaceful midst of these honest smugglers?” “...fate always seems to have brought me in for the dénounment of other people’s drama’s” “how many times have I been in the axe in the hands of fate?” “Why didn’t I choose to follow the path that fate had opened to me?”
 * Predestination vs. fate **