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
As soon as men live entirely in accord with the law of love natural to their hearts and now revealed to them, which excludes all resistance by violence, and therefore hold aloof from all participation in violence - as soon as this happens, not only will hundreds be unable to enslave millions, but not even millions will be able to enslave a single individual.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Tolstoy emphasizes the power of love and nonviolence in overcoming oppression.
In this quote, Leo Tolstoy argues that true freedom and justice can only be achieved when individuals fully embrace the inherent law of love within their hearts, rejecting violence in all its forms. He asserts that when people genuinely live by love and take a stand against violence, no group, regardless of size, can impose oppression on others, thereby challenging the very foundations of power based on fear and force.
Themes
LoveNonviolenceFreedomOppressionJustice
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about social change, this quote can inspire action towards peaceful movements.
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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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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.
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