"[L]ove in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams."

Tags:
Source:
The Brothers Karamazov
Extended quote:

"Avoid fear, too, though fear is only the consequence of every sort of falsehood. Never be frightened at your own faint-heartedness in attaining love. Don’t be frightened overmuch even at your evil actions. I am sorry I can say nothing more consoling to you, for love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams is greedy for immediate action, rapidly performed and in the sight of all."

Source URL:
https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/d/dostoyevsky/d72b/chapter9.html