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
There is only one way to put an end to evil, and that is to do good for evil.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that combating evil requires actively choosing to do good.
In this quote, Tolstoy argues that confronting evil is not simply about opposing it, but rather involves a proactive approach of doing good deeds. By choosing goodness over negativity, individuals can combat the influence of evil in the world, suggesting that moral action and positive contributions are essential in overcoming malevolent forces.
Themes
GoodEvilMoralityActionPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during discussions about activism and social justice.
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.
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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.
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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