1,507 Quotes by Leo Tolstoy

Toporóff, like all those who are quite destitute of the fundamental religious feeling that recognizes the equality and brotherhood of men, was fully convinced that the common people were creatures entirely different from himself, and that the people needed what he could very well do without, for at the bottom of his heart he believed in nothing, and found such a state very convenient and pleasant.

And since no difference is less easily overcome than the difference of opinion about semi-abstract questions, they never agreed in any opinion, and had long, indeed, been accustomed to jeer without anger, each at the other’s incorrigible aberrations.

Life is too long to say anything definitely; always say perhaps.

Pure, perfect sorrow is as impossible as pure and perfect joy.

Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins

The only happy marriages I know are arranged ones.

Praštati ne znači samo reći: praštam, nego iščupati iz srca srdnju, zlo osećanje prema onom ko nas je uvredio. A da to učinimo, treba samo da se setimo svojih greha; a kad se njih setimo, zacelo ćemo naći u sebi još gorih stvari nego što su one zbog kojih se srdimo.

That's just the point, my dear fellow, that cases may arise when the Government does not fulfill the will of its citizens and then Society announces its own will.

Tushin did not tell him that there were no covering troops, though that was the plain truth. He was afraid to let down another officer that way and silently, with fixed eyes, looked straight into Bagration's face, as a confused student looks into his examiner's eyes.