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
Vegetarianism serves as the criterion by which we know that the pursuit of moral perfection on the part of humanity is genuine and sincere.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Vegetarianism reflects humanity's genuine commitment to moral values.
In this quote, Tolstoy suggests that the choice to be vegetarian is not just a dietary preference but serves as a measure of one's moral integrity and sincerity in the pursuit of ethical living. He implies that adopting vegetarianism is a significant step towards achieving moral perfection, as it demonstrates a commitment to compassion and the well-being of all living beings.
Themes
VegetarianismMoralityCompassionEthicsHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethical eating choices at a community event.
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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 β such is my idea of happiness.
Leo TolstoyRead
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