Leo Tolstoy Quotes

The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.

He could not be mistaken. There were no other eyes like those in the world. There was only one creature in the world who could concentrate for him all the brightness and meaning of life. It was she. It was Kitty.

I see a man who has serious intentions, that's Levin; and I see a peacock, like this featherhead, who's only amusing himself.

It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.

Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced."

"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."

You will die and find out everything — or cease asking.

What a strange illusion it is to suppose that beauty is goodness.

If you want to be happy, be.

I sit on a man's back, choking him, and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am very sorry for him and wish to ease his lot by any means possible, except getting off his back.

Error is the force that welds men together; truth is communicated to men only by deeds of truth.

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him.

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves.

If you want to be happy... Be.

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

A monkey was carrying two handfuls of peas. One little pea dropped out. He tried to pick it up, and split twenty. He tried to pick up the twenty, and split them all. Then he lost his temper, scattered the peas in all directions and ran away.

...rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor -- such is my idea of happiness. And then, on the top of all that, you for a mate, and children perhaps -- what more can the heart of man desire?

Music is the shorthand of emotion.

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. And to act so is immoral.

A battle is won by him who is firmly resolved to win it.