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100 Inspirational Quotes By Leo Tolstoy, The Author Of War And Peace

Famous As: One of the Greatest Authors of All Time
Born On: September 9, 1828
Died On: November 20, 1910
Born In: Yasnaya Polyana, Russia
Died At Age: 82

No list of world’s greatest novelists can be complete without the mention of Russian author, Leo Tolstoy. Generations have come and gone, each only augmenting the sheer brilliance of Tolstoy as a master of realistic fiction. His novels, ‘War and Peace’, ‘Anna Karenina’ and ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich’ even today are ranked amongst the best in the world and are counted amongst the finest novels ever written. His works share a vision of human experience rooted in an appreciation of everyday life and prosaic virtues. Tolstoy’s ability to observe the smallest changes of consciousness and to record the slightest movements of the body is something not many novelists can claim to have even today in the 21st century. Literary accomplishments apart, Tolstoy attracted attention due to his new faith, which mixed pacifism with Christian anarchism and advocated living a morally and physically ascetic lifestyle. Among those influenced by Tolstoy’s social beliefs was Mahatma Gandhi, who started the non-violent movement in India and brought the country its independence from British Raj. Tolstoy’s spiritual belief, religious sentiments and literary brilliance can also be seen in his quotes that cover a vast variety of subjects and give a new perspective to life.

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

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

Leo Tolstoy
All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

Leo Tolstoy
If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.

If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.

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

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

Leo Tolstoy
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.

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.

Leo Tolstoy
Respect was invented to cover the empty place where love should be.

Respect was invented to cover the empty place where love should be.

Leo Tolstoy
He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.

He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.

Leo Tolstoy
Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.

Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.

Leo Tolstoy
We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.

We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.

Leo Tolstoy
If you want to be happy, be.

If you want to be happy, be.

Leo Tolstoy
Spring is the time of plans and projects.

Spring is the time of plans and projects.

Leo Tolstoy
Is it really possible to tell someone else what one feels?

Is it really possible to tell someone else what one feels?

Leo Tolstoy
In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.

In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.

Leo Tolstoy
Nothing is so necessary for a young man as the company of intelligent women.

Nothing is so necessary for a young man as the company of intelligent women.

Leo Tolstoy
When you love someone, you love the person as they are, and not as you'd like them to be.

When you love someone, you love the person as they are, and not as you'd like them to be.

Leo Tolstoy
Rummaging in our souls, we often dig up something that ought to have lain there unnoticed.

Rummaging in our souls, we often dig up something that ought to have lain there unnoticed.

Leo Tolstoy
Be bad, but at least don't be a liar, a deceiver!

Be bad, but at least don't be a liar, a deceiver!

Leo Tolstoy
The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.

Leo Tolstoy
Love. The reason I dislike that word is that it means too much for me, far more than you can understand.

Love. The reason I dislike that word is that it means too much for me, far more than you can understand." - Anna Karenina {Anna Karenina}

Leo Tolstoy
Anything is better than lies and deceit!

Anything is better than lies and deceit!

Leo Tolstoy
Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.

Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.

Leo Tolstoy
All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.

All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.

Leo Tolstoy
I always loved you, and if one loves anyone, one loves the whole person, just as they are and not as one would like them to be. -Dolly

I always loved you, and if one loves anyone, one loves the whole person, just as they are and not as one would like them to be. -Dolly

Leo Tolstoy
I've always loved you, and when you love someone, you love the whole person, just as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.

I've always loved you, and when you love someone, you love the whole person, just as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.

Leo Tolstoy
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 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.

Leo Tolstoy
If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.

If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.

Leo Tolstoy
Boredom: the desire for desires.

Boredom: the desire for desires.

Leo Tolstoy
The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience.

The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience.

Leo Tolstoy
Sometimes she did not know what she feared, what she desired: whether she feared or desired what had been or what would be, and precisely what she desired, she did not know.

Sometimes she did not know what she feared, what she desired: whether she feared or desired what had been or what would be, and precisely what she desired, she did not know.

Leo Tolstoy
Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them.

Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them.

Leo Tolstoy