Art begins when a man, with a purpose of communicating to other people a feeling he once experienced, calls it up again within himself and expresses it by certain external signs.
Leo TolstoyRead
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that people often desire to improve the world around them but neglect personal growth and self-improvement.
Leo Tolstoy emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and personal transformation as a prerequisite for effecting any meaningful change in the world. He points out a common tendency where individuals focus on external problems and ambitions rather than looking inward to address their own shortcomings and behaviors, which are equally critical for overall progress.
Themes
ChangeSelf-ImprovementPersonal GrowthWorldReflection
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech on the importance of self-awareness.
More from Leo Tolstoy
All quotes βPierre looked into the sky, into the depths of the retreating, twinkling stars. "And all this is mine, and all this is in me, and all this is me!" thought Pierre. "And all this they've caught and put in a shed and boarded it up!
Leo TolstoyRead
People try to do all sorts of clever and difficult things to improve life instead of doing the simplest, easiest thing-refusing to participate in activities that make life bad.
Leo TolstoyRead
It's too easy to criticize a man when he's out of favour, and to make him shoulder the blame for everybody else's mistakes.
Leo TolstoyRead
Music is the shorthand of emotion. Emotions, which let themselves be described in words with such difficulty, are directly conveyed to man in music, and in that is its power and significance.
Leo TolstoyRead
A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor β such is my idea of happiness.
Leo TolstoyRead
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Those who refused to respond to the new stimulus would perish. Adapt or perish.
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Indeed, I suspect that the changes that have taken place during the last century in the average man's fundamental beliefs, in his philosophy, in his conception of religion, in his whole world outlook, are greater than the changes that occurred during the preceding four thousand years all put together.
Robert Andrews MillikanRead