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
greatness men names
In historic events, the so-called great men are labels giving names to events, and like labels they have but the smallest connection with the event itself. Every act of theirs, which appears to them an act of their own will, is in an historical sense involuntary and is related to the whole course of history and predestined from eternity.
greatness simplicity christ
For us, with the rule of right and wrong given us by Christ, there is nothing for which we have no standard. And there is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.
greatness men humanity
When it is impossible to stretch the very elastic threads of historical ratiocination any farther, when actions are clearly contrary to all that humanity calls right or even just, the historians produce a saving conception of 'greatness.' 'Greatness,' it seems, excludes the standards of right and wrong. For the 'great' man nothing is wrong, there is no atrocity for which a 'great' man can be blamed.
flight highest human wisdom
The only thing that we know is that we know nothing and that is the highest flight of human wisdom.
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
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
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.
easier practice principle produce ten volumes
It is easier to produce ten volumes of philosophical writing than to put one principle into practice
lies lies-and-lying pleasure seeking
Some mathematician has said pleasure lies not in discovering truth, but in seeking it.
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.
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.
bear sends strength
He sends a cross, but He also sends the strength to bear it.