1,507 Quotes by Leo Tolstoy

Only Anna felt sad. She knew that when Dolly was gone no one would call up in her soul the feelings which had been aroused by their meeting. To have those feelings awakened was painful, but still she knew that they were the best part of her soul, and that that part of her was rapidly being choked by the life she was leading.

I not only understood her, but it was just that inner, spiritual force, that sincerity, that frankness of soul—that very soul of hers which seemed to be fettered by her body—it was that soul I loved in her.

And what is justice? The princess thought of that proud word 'justice'. All the complex laws of man centered for her in one clear and simple law—the law of love and self-sacrifice taught us by Him who lovingly suffered for mankind though He Himself was God. What had she to do with justice or injustice of other people? She had to endure and love, and that she did.

Love those that hate you, but to love those one hates is impossible

My love keeps growing more passionate and egoistic, while his is waning and waning, and that's why we're drifting apart

If a man decides that it is better for him to resist the demands of a present feeble love, in the name of another, of a future manifestation, he deceives either himself or other people, and loves no one but himself. Future love does not exist. Love is a present activity only. The man who does not manifest love in the present has not love.

Just when the question of how to live had become clearer to him, a new insoluble problem presented itself - Death.

he was one of those diplomats who like and know how to work, and, despite his laziness, he occasionally spent nights at his desk.

And those who only know the non-platonic love have no need to talk of tragedy. In such love there can be no sort of tragedy.