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
The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity by contributing to the establishment of the kingdom of God, which can only be done by the recognition and profession of the truth by every man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life's purpose lies in serving humanity and acknowledging truth.
In this quote, Leo Tolstoy emphasizes that the essence of life is found in the service of others and contributing to a greater purpose, symbolized by the 'kingdom of God.' He asserts that this can only be achieved through individual recognition and declaration of truth, suggesting that personal integrity and collective effort are vital for a meaningful existence.
Themes
LifeServiceHumanityTruthPurpose
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a humanitarian event to inspire volunteers.
More from Leo Tolstoy
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 — such is my idea of happiness.
Leo TolstoyRead
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Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.
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