Antithesis

Placing opposing ideas or words side by side, so that one illuminates the other through contrast.

In Demons

His hair was too black, his clear eyes too calm and too limpid, his complexion too delicate and too white, his vivid, pure flush too much, teeth like pearls, lips like coral: he looked like a beauty in a painting and, at the same time, somehow repulsive. People said his face resembled a mask.

"A beauty in a painting" and, at the same time, "repulsive": two opposite impressions stand side by side, without resolution. The contrast says what the town feels before him, attraction and unease together.

Part One: The Father of the Demons, the chronicler, on Nikolai Stavrogin

Pyotr Stepanovich is the universal conciliator; that is his role, his illness, his warhorse [...] as a realist, he cannot lie, and truth is dearer to him than success... except, of course, in particular cases where success is dearer than truth.

Part One: The Slap, Stavrogin, on Pyotr Stepanovich

After all, you are an intelligent man and, of course, you do not believe for yourself, but you understand very well that you need faith to brutalize the people. Truth is more honest than lies.

Part Two: The Waiting Town, Pyotr Stepanovich, to Governor Lembke

Starting from unlimited freedom, I conclude with unlimited despotism.

Part Two: Shigalyov's System, Shigalyov

Without the English humanity can still live, without Germany it can, without the Russian man it is more than possible, without science it can, without bread it can, only without beauty is it impossible, for there would be absolutely nothing to do in the world.

Part Three: The Party and the Fire, Stepan Trofimovich

The fire is in minds, not on the roofs of houses.

Part Three: The Party and the Fire, Lembke