And I despise all your books, I despise all earthly blessings and wisdom. All is worthless and false, hollow and deceiving like the mirage. You may be proud, wise and beautiful, but death will wipe you away from the face of the earth, as it does the mice that live beneath your floor; and your heirs, your history, your immortal geniuses will freeze or burn with the destruction of the earth.

You have gone mad and are not following the right path. You take falsehood for truth, and deformity for beauty. You would be surprised if instead of fruit there appeared on your apple and orange trees frogs and lizards, or if your roses exhaled the smell of sweating horses; so I am surprised you barter heaven for earth ... I do not want to understand you.

- Anton Chekov

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