Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina

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“Each person’s task in life is to become an increasingly better person.”

~ Leo Tolstoy

I cannot fathom God's whole design, for the sake of which the universe exists and lives ; but the Divine work which is being accomplished in this world and in which I participate by living is comprehensible to me.

This work is the annihilation of discord and strife among men and among all creatures, and the establishment of the highest unity and concord and love.

It is the fulfillment of the promises of the Hebrew prophet who foretold a time when all men should be taught by truth, when spears should be turned into reaping-hooks, swords be beaten to ploughshares, and the lion lie down with the lamb. So that a man of Christian intelligence not only knows what he has to do, but he also understands the work he is doing.

He has to act so as to co-operate towards the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. For this a man must obey his intuition of God's will, i.e., must act lovingly towards others, as he would that others should act towards him. 

~ Leo Tolstoy

You can't imagine what a pleasure this complete laziness is to me: not a thought in my brain- you might send a ball rolling through it!”

~ Leo Tolstoy