Philosophies for Life 93: 10 Life Lessons From Fyodor Dostoevsky (Existentialism)
Jul 24, 2025
27:10
In this podcast, we will be talking about 10 life lessons from the philosophy of Fyodor Dostoevsky. Fyodor Dostoevsky was a 19th century novelist and philosopher and is considered to be one of the first writers to incorporate concepts of what we now know as existentialism.
So with that in mind, here are 10 life lessons from the philosophy of Fyodor Dostoevsky -
01. Excessive self-pride leads to isolation
02. Be better for yourself, not for other people
03. It’s more important to live life, than to think about life
04. Emotional intelligence is as insightful as rationality
05. Love life more than its meaning
06. Be virtuous and just
07. Fight evil with love and compassion
08. Moral freedom is no freedom at all
09. Compassion and love can break alienation
10. Learn to enjoy suffering
I hope you enjoyed listening to this podcast and hope these 10 life lessons from the philosophy of Fyodor Dostoevsky will add value to your life.
Fyodor Dostoevsky was a 19th century novelist and philosopher, considered by many to be one of the most influential authors in all of world literature. Born and raised in Tsarist Russia, Dostoevsky was heavily exposed to the misery and injustice characteristic of his time. Among his more marking experiences, he spent four years in a Siberian labour camp, went through compulsory military service in exile, and had to beg for money while in Western Europe due to his gambling addiction. And yet, despite his first-hand experience of misery and suffering, Dostoevsky remained hopeful and optimistic about what life is. He is considered to be one of the first writers to incorporate concepts of what we now know as existentialism. Dostoevsky’s works revolve around a few major themes like the meaning of life, the constancy of suffering, the divide between rationality and emotion, spirituality, and the various sides of the human condition. Some of his well known novels and essays are Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, and Notes from the Underground. Through his novels and essays, Dostoevsky tried to make sense of the suffering and misery around him, attempting to find meaning and hope even in the bleakest of times. His work represents a deep dive into human suffering, the evil surrounding us, and the problems caused by moral corruption and in each of the universes he created, he gave ways to escape the apparent constant suffering and torment of his characters through moral virtue, love, compassion, and one’s own sense of meaning. His writings were heavily influential for the existentialist current of philosophy, representing sources of inspiration for other consecrated authors like Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre.
So with that in mind, here are 10 life lessons from the philosophy of Fyodor Dostoevsky -
01. Excessive self-pride leads to isolation
02. Be better for yourself, not for other people
03. It’s more important to live life, than to think about life
04. Emotional intelligence is as insightful as rationality
05. Love life more than its meaning
06. Be virtuous and just
07. Fight evil with love and compassion
08. Moral freedom is no freedom at all
09. Compassion and love can break alienation
10. Learn to enjoy suffering
I hope you enjoyed listening to this podcast and hope these 10 life lessons from the philosophy of Fyodor Dostoevsky will add value to your life.
Fyodor Dostoevsky was a 19th century novelist and philosopher, considered by many to be one of the most influential authors in all of world literature. Born and raised in Tsarist Russia, Dostoevsky was heavily exposed to the misery and injustice characteristic of his time. Among his more marking experiences, he spent four years in a Siberian labour camp, went through compulsory military service in exile, and had to beg for money while in Western Europe due to his gambling addiction. And yet, despite his first-hand experience of misery and suffering, Dostoevsky remained hopeful and optimistic about what life is. He is considered to be one of the first writers to incorporate concepts of what we now know as existentialism. Dostoevsky’s works revolve around a few major themes like the meaning of life, the constancy of suffering, the divide between rationality and emotion, spirituality, and the various sides of the human condition. Some of his well known novels and essays are Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, and Notes from the Underground. Through his novels and essays, Dostoevsky tried to make sense of the suffering and misery around him, attempting to find meaning and hope even in the bleakest of times. His work represents a deep dive into human suffering, the evil surrounding us, and the problems caused by moral corruption and in each of the universes he created, he gave ways to escape the apparent constant suffering and torment of his characters through moral virtue, love, compassion, and one’s own sense of meaning. His writings were heavily influential for the existentialist current of philosophy, representing sources of inspiration for other consecrated authors like Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre.