Dostoevsky's Warning to Lovers | White Nights 

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"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." T.E. Lawrence aka Lawrence of Arabia

"Babe hes just a friend" The friend: waiting for you to upset her

It’s so interesting how we think of ourselves as “sane”, but when we let imagination run free, we become delusional and as crazy as it can be.

Love did conquer all and waiting patiently did pay off. For her, the narrator isn't the protagonist of that story. He was simply the narrator.

I felt sorry for myself after reading this novel. He is literally me.

your videos are poetry in themselves 👏🏾👏🏼👏🏿👏🏽👏🏻

During the video, I was reminded of something GSP said (legendary ufc fighter, if you don't know), it was about how he's very scared of how the fights going to turn out in the days leading to a fight. He was talking about how one way he'd be able to calm himself was to just drive around the city and watch ordinary people. Like this elderly woman who's buying her groceries has no idea who he is and probably doesn't care whether he wins or loses and he uses things like that to remind himself he's just a person like anyone and that winning or losing this fight doesn't really have huge consequences or significance. He made sure to at least tame his ego basically.

I almost feel this book was writtin about my simpin ass 💀

I would say that the main difference between the imagination that Dostoevsky uses to weave these stories compared to the fantasies of the narrator is that Dostoesky does not engage in creating escapist fantasies but rather engages to reader to see a less illustrious version of life that is more akin to reality. I believe that the story is describing the danger of escapist fantasy, as we can often use our imagination to help get through difficult situations in life rather than using to for pure escape. We must be weary of escapist fantasies and daydreaming and instead engage in the real world.

As a recently limmerent maladaptive daydreamer this really speaks to me. It’s crazy to think people even back then were going through the same things I am that I never even hear people talk about now, let alone in popular media.

When I read that novel, I recognized much of myself within the narrator. I found that his developing love for Nastenka and the outlook of their shared life began to draw him out of himself, opened a door for him to lead an actually real life. I was rooting for him. I think even though the end is heartbreaking in the sense that his hopes got destroyed, I thought of his reaction as the best one possible, showing a genuine love. He let her go. And with her his fantasies about their life. Nastenka left, but she also left him with something concrete in his life: love in the proper sense that wills the good of the other. He found love at the loss of Nastenka.

White Nights is my favourite novel to ever exist. I think that although yes, it’s a warning to not dwell in your dreams, it’s also a story of completely unconditional love. The Dreamer wished love and happiness to Nastenka, even when his narrative was shattered completely at the end. He is a good and pure heart.

No flashy cuts, no rumming around. Just a man with thick eyebrows providing helpful advice. Keep up the great work.

As a Russian, I feel so grateful for being able to read Dostoevsky and other incredible Russian classics in its original language❤ thank you for this wonderful video!

Man. This just blew my mind. It's speaking to the exactly the problem I had as a teenager. I spend years obsessing over a idea of a girl and living in my imagination. It almost destroyed my life. Thank you very much. I love your Videos ❤

I remember I burst out laughing when I read the end of the book, he's such a tool he reminded me of myself. Great video as always, keep it up!

I love your channel name because it immediately shows that you know that some people don’t want/need your advice and immediately sets you apart from the plague of gurus online that scam people. Which in a part of youtube like this is really important

Philosophy…You just can’t get enough of it 💭

If I had watched this video 25 yrs ago (which was not possible bc it was not created) I could have saved myself a few million dollars and two marriages. We are brought up in a world constructed of layers of lies and wishful thinking, and this is all institutionalized and celebrated generations upon generations to be encoded into our mental framework. Thanks for the good work.

I found this video yesterday and got intrigued by the title and the thumbnail especially that i myself a dreamer so before you delved into anything i took the chance to read "white nights" first and dear lord! I AM THE NARRATOR! I'm exactly as delusional as him and now that i've finished your video i'm deeply disturbed and i don't know what to do It's sufficient to say that i've started escaping into the world of fantasy when i was very young because i've had a very strict mother but i've never grown out of it even though i'm in my mid twenties now A few days ago i realized that i only believe my narrative and ignore the reality of things, i've always thought that i'm lonely and no one really understands me but that's false i've many friends and even if they don't quite understand me _well mainly because i'm delusional and my expectations aren't even real therefore i'm always disappointed_ they still love me and care for me unlike me who is so indulgent in fantasies that i forget to live Recently i've realized that i'm strikingly similar to Mr. Bennet from "Pride & Prejudice" God... I'm sad but i don't know how to stop and start actually living life. Thank you for such an eye opening video, it's my first time seeing you but definitely won't be the last

When I was 12 my grandmother died of cancer. It was excruciating because I had to watch her perish away for over a year. I loved her deeply, she has always been my female role model. For years afterwards every single night I dreamed she was still alive, I will let you imagine how it felt to wake up every single day to the realization of the cold hard truth. After some time the dreams stopped but the traume remained dormant below the surface and manifested itself again, stronger than ever before, when I suffered another loss. At that point I was crushed under the pain and it took some time for me to get on my feet again, thankfully by that point I was more mature and better suited to handle hardship than my 12 year old self.

Dostoevsky is an incredible writer. His style of written proses really catch your attention and you strive to constantly search for every single hidden meaning this has. Overall, great video.

The ego is the enemy of love and happiness. ❤ Really nice video.

I’ve never been able to put this pattern into words. It was like that quote from the matrix, “you can feel something is wrong, but you have no way of telling. You can’t see it”. Yet this video perfectly described my condition in the past few years. I feel stuck in a loop. Like being thrown around a washing machine with no way out. Repeating my mistakes in a blind circle.

How narratives guide our actions/decisions is brilliant

I can’t believe that White Knight was used in today’s context over a century ago. I know it’s always meant “good guy” vs Black Knight, but the context of a friend-zone nice guy trying to nice his way into a woman’s heart.

As a maladaptive daydreamer, this book was a wake-up call for me.

Just recently read this short novel, and this observation hits hard! I envy your friends who can have those philosophical conversations on a daily basis lol

He knew what’s up. People have one person they will always and truly love. If they are unattainable, they will use other people to fill that void; but should that love return, they will discard said people and run back in a heartbeat.

This hit home in a terrifying manner

Your videos, specifically the Nietzsche ones, got me to start reading philosophy again after a long semester of psych studies. They’re always in-depth and easily digestible at the same time. Tysm for putting out quality essays like these for free 🙏🙏🙏

I am so glad I found this video. I think you just saved me from a potential misery and despair. Thank you!

Very interesting. Obsession with a romantic love narrative can be a poison. I of course speak from experience.

White Nights is such a beautiful and tragic story. I usually hate these types of stories to be honest, but White Nights managed to bring me to tears, as it is such a relatable story for anyone that has ever lost someone they imagined a future with

Hi, I'm just a mere 17yo frm India but this is so relatable ... Lockdown has played a major role in all our lives and in mine by not letting me experience the real world .. I had lost 2 yrs old my life even though it was lockdown i could've been so productive as I skipped entire 8th and 9th grade without studying at all but instead i read romance novels and different such fantasy genres and escaped time.. i didn't know what was happening around me with my family I just simply felt as if time was ticking too fast and here I am i messed up my 10th grade board exams grades even though I got 85% ik i could've gotten 98 and now I'm in 11th and have stem subjects but even a little lack of motivation pushes me to read romance and dream of an impossible reality.. I might be a science student but I write poetry and love Literature and history but reality is that stem is the future and if I want to contribute in this next generation of digital revolution then physics will have to be my literature and maths my poetry... I do still maintain a notebook to write down my thoughts and poetry randomly .

Mate, you are getting way too real with this one. I just went through the exact same thing this protagonist went through just two days ago. I needed this.

Omg this is so good! It's like learning about complex story literatures at the same time learning about real life philosophy, thank you so much

It's scarily accurate how White Nights depicts inaction in love, cause of anxiety or fear of rejection etc. One of the main things I took from the book is to show and tell how you feel, to not be afraid to feel cause we're human in doing so. In our dreams everything feels easy and comprehensible, you picture things as you want them to be - but to put them to reality, is a thing on its own. This book actually made me feel uneasy after reading it, I felt so sorry for the protagonist, as if I never in my life want to become like this, it's self-destructive on a whole another level.

Thanks for always sharing the sources as well as sharing your opinions on them. I am glad to have found your channel

Your channel is a hidden gem, my friend. And this might be one of your best videos. Keep doing your amazing work. It's poetry for the soul.

In the french language, une nuit blanche is a sleepless night. I can't help but wonder how this concept might change the interpretation. Must pick up a copy to read myself. Thanx for the recommendation.

What’s great video!! I really appreciated the connection and overlap references you made from all sorts of philosophical perspectives. Really brings some clarity to your arguments 👏🏻

Wow, what a great video. Can't helt but relate in so many ways, it's crazy. Keep it up man!

Your way of describing is mesmerizing! Honestly, it's inspiring and beautiful! Bravo!

This analysis was so beautiful. I have been a dreamer my whole life, so when I learned to love myself during the last relationship I had, it took a toll on me after it ended. It felt like I lost a huge part of me. Watching this made so much sense to me, giving me a huge insight. I will not stop no love myself regardless, even after a great, and the best relationship I had. Bring forth what I already have, and learn to love new things about me. And see the love my friends and family already have.

my heart hasn't related to something so deeply in such a long time, this is such an incredible video❤

Such a great work man. Only now I could realize all the lessons the book holds . thanks a lot ❤

ALOT of people would benefit from hearing this

It fills me with such joy, that I see more and more people interested in great writers! And more specifically in one of my favorite novels!

I was about to go down the same path. I've done over and over again. Everything about the narrator made me realise he's present day me. The only difference is that I don't dream. I use video games as my escape from my own reality. In my room alone, instead of being grateful for what im getting.

Great video and insight that's truly original & very well presented. For a channel that's a few weeks short of a year old, you're doing a great job growing. Keep the great content coming.

Very appreciated for this video. Great explanation. I just read this a couple months ago. This really helped me understand it. Great presentation and production quality.

That ending frustrates me so much for some reason. The protag clearly wasn't in a good place for a relationship but he got used and discarded and he didn't realize it, instead being 'happy' for her and not learning anything.

I introduced my friend who learned English as a second language and he thinks you speak fast but said your pace on Thoreau’s video How to be happy was better and all of the words sank in ,but appreciated inclusion of subtitles since it makes things easier.I told him you speak normal with excellent articulation and I have encountered by far people who speak at an accelerating pace than this ,as usual I understand everything and adore your elocution ,keep it up.

What an amazing video. Thank you so much! I just finished reading White Nights and had trouble understanding this book as well as finding its analysis online. Thank you, now I finally grasp the idea behind this novel!!!

Thank you so much, bro, cuz you use transcriptions in your videos. I'm trying to learn english and this help me a lot. I watch, read and listen to online things that i like to know about. Literature and Dostoyevsky is a simple exemple. My english is beginner to intermediate, but my goal is to be fluence in two or three years. I just study russian cuz i love russian literature, specially Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy and Chekhov. If someone here wants to talk in english about universal literature with a brazilian guy, i'm here, guys! I would love practice my speaking habilities with those who also love literature. Thanks a lot! Very good video!

Quite a fresh and productive video, my fellow. Congratulations on doing such a good work. You have my admiration

thank god i found your channel today. now it would be more effective to read philosophy as your interpreations are amazing

You've said everything that I have thought about. I've read it after finishing Notes from Underground and I haven't assimilated all of its meaning truly, at that moment being. A few weeks ago I got friendzoned, it was devastating for me but at the same time, if I really think about it, it has done more good to me. I've went back to White Nights, "meditating" on its meanings, completing my essaya with its contrast, the Eternal Husband. Your video presented in such a beautiful way what I learned from it, what emotions it made me feel. Although I am a theist, waiting to be accepted in the Catholic Church, due to multiple reasons I don't want to elaborate on RU-vid, publicly, I wanted to say that yoy are a brilliant person. God bless you, may beauty save the world.

I just love your work, man. Hope your channel blows up.

I've literally just read the novel yesterday, thanks for the video

Every second of this video was truly profound and insightful. So many of these ideas coincided with my resolves, but perhaps I couldn't word these concepts in such an amazing manner. There is something I'd like to add on to this concept and it's possibly linked to quantum mechanics: "Reality is manifested as the opposite of what is percieved". Even if not the opposite, it does not match with perception.

So he was more focused on his ideals of her and not her herself. Also if he were introduced or practiced in more platonic friendships the mans value of another human would have changed I believe. Besides those thoughts, very eye opening especially in reality and dreaming. It is like he was maladaptive day dreaming but actively in the real world, just in VR mode

Exceptional presentation. Standing Ovation.

you are a godsend 😩 thank you! i've only ever read crime and punishment and karamazov. I never knew dostoevsky has written something describing most of my life. Thank you! will get a copy immediately!

Well i had the same hero complex... but mine was a 3 year relationship.. almost came close to marriage.. guess what she left me... here we both made many plans and dreams together, about the honeymoon, job, no of kids, names of kids, schooling of kids, our vacations, building a house 2 houses... she loved ocean and i loved mountains 😂doing charity... but she left men in an instant... i was devastated... like almost came at the brink of madness.. iam a stoic philosophy follower + a devoted christian (trying my level best)i think i made a mistake of making a web of dreams with her as my central power core and hell she was... i was the best productive man when she was with me... she is my first love, so those 3 years were heaven... so i was dead inside when she left... but i think im a fun guy, though i have pain inside i smile at people i talk to them, i care for them... so i felt people doing the same for me... then i started loving people without expectation... though i lost faith in romantic love(she stole all the love i stored for a woman, like the song "i spend all the love i saved "the distance and extend i went for her cannot be replicated or duplicated also the beauty of romantic love lies in its randomness and unpreparedness and i think going for another love with a terribly broken heart is going to hurt the new partner ), its not the only love out there.. and love giving more than getting... i love every little things in life now... learning new kind of loves... finding out more about me... dusting old hobbys, i think the scope for a romantic love and married life is over for me or i don't want to take that path anymore.. i had suicidal thoughts almost came close to a suicide but loving God, family and friends helped me so now ive overcome the fear of abandonment that is even if anyone leaves me i don't feel to mind it or gets disturbed by it... i think i developed this kind of "don't care " attitude towards myself from the knowledge that "i already lost the most valuable thing" and what can defeat an already defeated person... nothing... so now i can love without fear of loosing 😊

wonderful and thought provocking explanation..

Your channel is one of the most valuable on RU-vid.

Expectations lead to disappointments. This stuck with me ever since when my friend said it, I misunderstood at the time but years passed and that sentence grew onto me. If you never expect anything, you will never be disappointed at anything. Only give yourself standards, not expectations. Standards of what your man/woman would be, be it they should hold the door for you or listen to your ramblings etc. not an expectation that they would do it. You actively find someone with your standards NOT someone you daydream about/ expect something of them.

I love this. I just finished reading this book and you put all the thoughts I had in an orderly fashion. I am really enjoying your videos. Thanks. 😊

Really liked this novel, I even knew where this was going even before getting to the end because I am a dreamer.

Wow what a great take. Thanks for sharing

your explination is in a another level , “I used to imagine (a real, not fantasy) dreams about a boy, yet when he married another person it was .. since then i stoped dreaming

White Nights is my favorite piece of fiction I've ever read.

I really thank you, you helped me a great deal to get my ideas around and your insight was sure a useful one, I'll be sure to credit you in my essay ( ofc the essay will be my opinion but none the less you assured me that I was on the right road )

This video has a healing effect

better to have one moment, than to have zero moments

You are doing a great job. Your videos contain important and interesting knowledge. I am also grateful that you dont use easy words but those which are "for more intelligent people", so i can improve my English

Thank you! This was very helpful ❤️

You, my guy, deserve much more than 77k subs, I’ll add one to them but that’s about what I can do. Best of luck on yt journey 👋🏼

Amazing critique. Thank you very much…

The stories we tell ourselves about the world, define our life to be either enriching, or pure misery.

Thank you!!! Great content!!!

Very good! Valuable insight!

wonerfull, thank you for your content. being intrigued by philosophy it clicks with me and helps me personally.

Imagination is a tool like any other, it's not dangerous as long as you don't let it control you.

I read most of his other most important works but not this one yet. I always came to a similar conclusion in understanding where he’s coming from but doubling down on my prior principles, because screw trying to be better. So I’ll say again, screw it, I’ll keep dreaming and clinging to my delusions because there’s still a nonzero chance I can pull them off, and I won’t let this shitty world stop me. Lmao, love is a scam, and I won’t stop chasing my desires at any cost. I refuse to compromise on anything and like the great men Raskolnikov spoke of, all I need to do is dare, and continue to dare and not back down or waver the way Rodya did in turning himself in. But I suppose that line of thinking sounds immature. But I still don’t care because I can still win the way I want.

@17:34 the love we could give to those with less resources, less money, less security,less time, less priveldge once we have loved is insane. Maybe if it’s taking you so long to replace the person you once loved mayeb it’s not supposed to go to another lover but to many different things: volunteer work at a shelter, becoming the engineer or business person that will convince their company to create more homes , learning to cook for your community if not that man you were willing to do anything for.

This is a good thought experiment, the conclusion I arrived at a while ago is to integrate your dreams into reality. To dispense ideals leads to hopelessness, and to apply them in reality has the capacity of slowly liberate your own potential. You should definitely set expectations for your aspirations though so you are able to discard a bad deal that looks good.

great to hear about this novel that I have never read. Can't help but think about how things have changed: people can monetize fantasy now or share it in a way to create mass fantasy about a shared world, which takes the isolation and uselessness out of dreaming. there are fantasy games with economies bigger than small countries! But you have to create a fantasy others can share in, not one centered entirely on yourself like the protagonist is doing. Even back then if you can generalize then pining can become poetry and songs others can relate to and you can make some career out of. I guess my point is: The market for fantasy has grown and continues to grow, so it might not be as destructive and negative as white nights insinuates.

Damn this video really got me thinkin’, thank you for makin it!

I have been engrossed in Dostoevsky's works lately and this came in timely in my recommendations which lead me to subscribing, I like how white nights has been discussed here concisely. I agree with how you interpeted the message that this story implies and we have some similar takeaways on it. Thanks for posting this as I think works like this is a remarkable deed for art, looking forward to the next videos.

I'm in love with this man.

Great video. Gave me some self reflection.

Im currently at minute 10 and I have to go do something but I feel like missing something if I dont end this video. Keep it up you make awesome content

I am thoroughly convinced reading Dostoyevsky might be the antidote to my problems

I just read it today, and I was happy for the narrator, till i wasn't. Damn!!!

I adore your understanding.

Bro good shit ! This video describes where I am in my love life right now