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
marriage selfish men
The goal of our life should not be to find joy in marriage, but to bring more love and truth into the world. We marry to assist each other in this task. The most selfish and hateful life of all is that of two beings who unite in order to enjoy life. The highest calling is that of the man who has dedicated his life to serving God and doing good, and who unites with a woman in order to further that purpose.
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.
dies matter peasant performs religion rituals true
A peasant dies calmly because he is not a Christian. He performs the rituals as a matter of course, but his true religion is different. His religion is nature, with which he has lived.
bad evil good granted men power precisely present rule saying taken time
In saying that without the power of the state, evil men would rule over the good. It is taken for granted that the good are precisely those who at the present time have power, and the bad the same who are no subjugated.