Irony

Saying one thing while meaning another, often the opposite. The true meaning is left to the reader or listener.

In Demons

The "superior liberalism" and the "superior liberal," that is, the liberal with no aim at all, are possible only in Russia.

The adjective "superior" sounds like praise, but it qualifies a liberal "with no aim at all." The narrator says one thing so that another is understood: the honorable title describes, in fact, a vanity without consequence.

Part One: The Father of the Demons, the chronicler

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

Nikolai Vsevolodovich, some captain or other [...] does not stop writing me indecent letters [...] If he really is your relative, forbid him to offend me and free me from these annoyances.

Part Two: The Town in Disorder, Lizaveta Nikolaevna

Yes, I have the misfortune of being a relative of this man. I am the husband of his sister, née Lebyadkina, and it has been nearly five years.

Part Two: The Town in Disorder, Stavrogin

Only we will remain, who from the start are destined to receive power: the intelligent ones we will take in with us; the fools, we shall ride. You must not be ashamed of this. The generation must be re-educated to make it worthy of freedom.

Part Three: The Last Decision, Pyotr Stepanovich