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
Well, pray if you like, only you'd do better to use your judgment.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Using judgment is more effective than mere praying.
This quote by Leo Tolstoy emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and rational decision-making. It suggests that while prayer can be comforting or provide hope, relying on one's own judgment and reason is essential for taking effective action in life.
Themes
JudgmentPrayerWisdomDecision-MakingAction
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about the importance of making informed decisions.
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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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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.
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