Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy; 9 September 1828 – 20 November 1910), usually referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time...
NationalityRussian
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth28 August 1828
CountryRussian Federation
church convinced crafty evil gross practice teaching theory witchcraft
I am convinced that the teaching of the church is in theory a crafty and evil lie, and in practice a concoction of gross superstition and witchcraft
easier practice principle produce ten volumes
It is easier to produce ten volumes of philosophical writing than to put one principle into practice
beautiful beauty hear illusion strange suppose thoughts wise woman
What a strange illusion it is to suppose that beauty is goodness! A beautiful woman utters absurdities: we listen, and we hear not the absurdities but wise thoughts
flight highest human wisdom
The only thing that we know is that we know nothing and that is the highest flight of human wisdom.
absurd born deny fable fall god redeem regarding
It is true, I deny the incomprehensible Trinity, and the fable regarding the fall of man, which is absurd in our day. It is true, I deny the sacrilegious story of a God born of a virgin to redeem the race.
people poverty given
The more is given the less the people will work for themselves, and the less they work the more their poverty will increase.
food health animal
A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite.
given increase less people poverty work
The more is given the less people will work for themselves, and the less they work the more their poverty will increase
absolute attractive believe body both citizen easily englishman forgets frenchman himself invented italian knows men mind personally regards repulsive russian science since state stronger truth worst
A Frenchman is self-assured because he regards himself personally both in mind and body as irresistibly attractive to men and women. An Englishman is self-assured as being a citizen of the best-organized state in the world and therefore, as an Englishman, always knows what he should do and knows that all he does as an Englishman is undoubtedly correct. An Italian is self-assured because he is excitable and easily forgets himself and other people. A Russian is self-assured just because he knows nothing and does not want to know anything, since he does not believe that anything can be known. The German's self-assurance is worst of all, stronger and more repulsive than any other, because he imagines that he knows the truth -- science -- which he himself has invented but which is for him the absolute truth.
definite generosity happiness joy life object outside people personal themselves
Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness
definite joy life object outside people personal service themselves
Joy can be real only if people look on their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness.
kinds love minds scholars-and-scholarship true
If it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts.
lies lies-and-lying pleasure seeking
Some mathematician has said pleasure lies not in discovering truth, but in seeking it.
church knowledge teachings
Church teachings are but fiction. I have knowledge of their inanity.