In our world of information overload, facts sometimes get mixed up. We're all familiar with the cascade of quotes that spread across social media - often packaged in catchy images but misattributed. An example is the supposedly “Dostoyevsky” quote: “Tolerance will go so far that intelligent people will be forbidden to think in order not to offend idiots.” This quote is attributed to the famous Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky. But is it really true?
This sharepic is currently making the rounds on social media:

| Claims | Fact check |
|---|---|
| The quote “Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be forbidden to think so as not to offend idiots” is from Fyodor Dostoyevsky. | Wrong: This quote cannot be found in Dostoyevsky's work. Experts, including the German Dostoyevsky Society, confirm that this statement is incorrectly attributed to the author. |
| The Russian term for tolerance, “tolerantnost,” was used in Dostoyevsky’s time. | Wrong: The Russian term for tolerance, “tolerantnost,” was only found in the Russian language in the 1890s – ten years after Dostoyevsky’s death. |
| The quote comes from the Russian film “Dog Heart”. | Wrong: The wording of the quote appears neither in the novella “Dog Heart” by Mikhail Bulgakov nor in its film adaptation. |
| The quote is often used in groups that discredit LGBTQ rights. | Correct: According to quote researcher Gerald Krieghofer, the quote is particularly popular in groups that discredit LGBTQ rights. |
Misattribution – A common practice
Putting words in the mouth of a well-known personality is easy in the digital age. An internet connection, a sharepic and a quote can go viral. But what about the authenticity of these statements? Our quote is a prime example of how misunderstandings and misinformation can spread.
Dostoyevsky and Tolerance – An Investigation
First of all, there is no evidence that Dostoyevsky ever wrote this sentence. According to Christoph Garstka from the German Dostoyevsky Society, the quote cannot be proven in Dostoyevsky's work. Garstka further argues that the Russian term for tolerance, “tolerantnost,” has only been recorded in the Russian language since the 1890s – ten years after Dostoyevsky’s death.
Quotation researcher Gerald Krieghofer confirms in his blog post that the alleged Dostoyevsky quote is false. An extensive search of Russian websites with the author's works did not reveal any reference to the quote.
Origin of the quote – A search
Our research leads us to a Russian website where the quote first appeared in 2019. However, it is not attributed to Dostoyevsky. Rather, a scene from the Russian feature film “Dog Heart” is shown, in which the actor Evgeni Evstigneev plays the role of Professor Filipp Preobrazhenski. The film is based on a short story by Mikhail Bulgakov, also a Russian writer. Sometimes the quote is incorrectly attributed to Bulgakov. But the quote does not appear in either the novella or the film adaptation.
False attribution – spread and consequences
The quote has been circulating in German since mid-2021 and is incorrectly attributed to Dostoyevsky. Some question this attribution, others spread it unchecked. Interestingly, the quote is particularly popular among groups that discredit LGBTQ rights. This fact highlights the importance of tolerance, which promotes the freedom of individuals to choose their beliefs while recognizing the same freedom of choice for everyone else.
Conclusion
Being critical and examining what we share and disseminate is more important than ever in a world of instant information delivery. The story of the misattributed Dostoyevsky quote is an example of how easily misinformation can spread. May this be a reminder of the power of words and our responsibility to use that power wisely.
Source: Lead Stories
Also read: Video fact check: Attack on young people by kicking them in the head in the park
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

