Quotes By Leo Tolstoy

Man cannot possess anything as long as he fears death. But to him who does not fear it, everything belongs. If there was no suffering, man would not know his limits, would not know himself.

Progress consists only in the greater clarification of answers to the basic questions of life.

Governments not only are not necessary, but are harmful and most highly immoral institutions.

To abolish war it is necessary to abolish patriotism, and to abolish patriotism it is necessary first to understand that it is an evil. Tell people that patriotism is bad and most will reply, 'Yes, bad patriotism is bad, but mine is good patriotism.'

In the best, the friendliest and simplest relations flattery or praise is necessary, just as grease is necessary to keep wheels turning.

Writing laws is easy, but governing is difficult.

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

With friends, one is well; but at home, one is better.

The teaching of the church, theoretically astute, is a lie in practice and a compound of vulgar superstitions and sorcery.

If goodness has causes, it is not goodness; if it has effects, a reward, it is not goodness either. So goodness is outside the chain of cause and effect.

Vegetarianism serves as the criterion by which we know that the pursuit of moral perfection on the part of humanity is genuine and sincere.

I think... 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.

When one's head is gone one doesn't weep for one's hair!

Not one word, not one gesture of yours shall I, could I, ever forget.

There is only one way to put an end to evil, and that is to do good for evil.

Prayer is an invisible tool which is wielded in a visible world.

The struggle with evil by means of violence is the same as an attempt to stop a cloud, in order that there may be no rain.

One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken.

Art is a microscope which the artist fixes on the secrets of his soul, and shows to people these secrets which are common to all.

The goal of our life should not be to find joy in marriage, but to bring more love and truth into the world.