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Leo Tolstoy quotes

Leo Tolstoy (1828 to 1910) was a Russian novelist and aristocrat who lived on his estate at Yasnaya Polyana. Quill quotes War and Peace in the Maudes' translation, Anna Karenina and The Kingdom of God Is Within You in Constance Garnett's, and Resurrection in Louise Maude's.

There are two Tolstoys here. The novelist watches people closely and rarely judges them. The later moralist, after the spiritual crisis of the late 1870s, judges nearly everyone, himself first. It's worth checking the title under a line to see which you're reading.

15 lines shown, from the 16 in Quill. Only lines checked against a public-domain text appear on this page.

Anna Karenina

Read Anna Karenina on Project Gutenberg

The great thing is the education of character.
Anna Karenina, Constance Garnett translation
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“You’ll catch all that up. They’re such clever children. The great thing is the education of character. That’s what I learn when I look at your children.”

If one forgives, it must be completely, completely.
Anna Karenina, Constance Garnett translation
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“Oh, of course,” Dolly interposed quickly, as though saying what she had more than once thought, “else it would not be forgiveness. If one forgives, it must be completely, completely. Come, let us go; I’ll take you to your room,” she said, getting up, and on the way she embraced Anna. “My dear, how glad I am you came. It has made things better, ever so much better.”

One must value old friends.
Anna Karenina, Constance Garnett translation
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Darya Alexandrovna too, as she said good-bye to him, gave him a sort of congratulation, saying, “How glad I am you have met Kitty again! One must value old friends.” Levin did not like these words of Darya Alexandrovna’s. She could not understand how lofty and beyond her it all was, and she ought not to have dared to allude to it. Levin said good-bye to them, but, not to be left alone, he attached himself to his brother.

You must rouse yourself, you must look life in the face.
Anna Karenina, Constance Garnett translation
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“I think you’re giving way to pessimism. You must rouse yourself, you must look life in the face. I know it’s hard, but....”

Spring is the time of plans and projects.
Anna Karenina, Constance Garnett translation
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Spring is the time of plans and projects. And, as he came out into the farmyard, Levin, like a tree in spring that knows not what form will be taken by the young shoots and twigs imprisoned in its swelling buds, hardly knew what undertakings he was going to begin upon now in the farm work that was so dear to him. But …

Everyone has enough to bear in his own grief!
Anna Karenina, Constance Garnett translation
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“Love those that hate you, but to love those one hates is impossible. Forgive me for having troubled you. Everyone has enough to bear in his own grief!” And regaining his self-possession, Alexey Alexandrovitch quietly took leave and went away.

War and Peace

Read War and Peace on Project Gutenberg

Events and time do not wait.
War and Peace, Louise and Aylmer Maude translation
Everything is, everything exists, only because I love.
War and Peace, Louise and Aylmer Maude translation
Forget the wrongs that may have been done you.
War and Peace, Louise and Aylmer Maude translation
The great thing is the serving, that’s it.
War and Peace, Louise and Aylmer Maude translation
Be kind, and use your wits.
War and Peace, Louise and Aylmer Maude translation

The Kingdom of God Is Within You

Read The Kingdom of God Is Within You on Project Gutenberg

With warped and rotten planks you cannot build a house, however you put them together.
The Kingdom of God Is Within You, Constance Garnett translation
If we do not go forward we must go back.
The Kingdom of God Is Within You, Constance Garnett translation

Resurrection

Read Resurrection on Project Gutenberg

Tomorrow a new life will begin.
Resurrection, Louise Maude translation
If you mean to do it, now’s the time.
Resurrection, Louise Maude translation

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