Quote

By patriotism is meant, not only spontaneous, instinctive love for one's own nation, and preference for it above all other nations, but also the belief that such love and preference are good and useful.

Leo Tolstoy

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Leo Tolstoy
Age: 82 †
Born: 1828
Born: January 1
Died: 1910
Died: January 1
Diarist
Esperantist
Essayist
Novelist
Opinion Journalist
Pedagogue
Philosopher
Playwright
Prosaist
Writer
Tolstoi
Tolstoy
Lev Nikolaevich
graf Tolstoĭ
Lev Nikolayevich
Count Tolstoy
Count Lev Tolstoy
Leo
graf Tolstoy
Lev
Count Tolstoy
Lev
graf Tolsztoj
Лев Николаевич
c граф Толстой
Lew
graf Tolstoi
Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy
Lev Tolstoy
Count Leo Tolstoy
Belief
Nations
Instinctive
Also
Preference
Good
Spontaneous
Love
Patriotism
Useful
Meant
Nation

More quotes by Leo Tolstoy

Image
I don't want to prove anything I merely want to live, to do no one harm but myself. I have the right to do that, haven't I?
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Conceit is incompatible with understanding.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Morning or night, Friday or Sunday, made no difference, everything was the same: the gnawing, excruciating, incessant pain that awareness of life irrevocably passing but not yet gone that dreadful, loathsome death, the only reality, relentlessly closing in on him and that same endless lie. What did days, weeks, or hours matter?
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Many people have ideas on how others should change few people have ideas on how they should change.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
I now understand that my welfare is only possible if I acknowledge my unity with all the people of the world without exception.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Commit no act that is contrary to love.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
For if we allow that human life is always guided by reason, we destroy the premise that life is possible at all.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Happiness is an allegory, unhappiness a story.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Every time I tried to express my most heartfelt desires to be morally good I met with contempt and ridicule and as soon as I would give in to vile passions I was praised and encouraged. Ambition, love of power, self-interest, lechery, pride, anger, vengeance-all of it was highly esteemed.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Don't seek God in temples. He is close to you. He is within you. Only you should surrender to Him and you will rise above happiness and unhappiness.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Is it really possible to tell someone else what one feels?
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Life is fragile and absurd.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
People involve themselves in countless activities which they consider to be important, but they forget about one activity which is more important and necessary than any other, and which includes all other things: the improvement of their soul
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Pierre was right when he said that one must believe in the possibility of happiness in order to be happy, and I now believe in it. Let the dead bury the dead, but while I'm alive, I must live and be happy.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
When the suffering of another creature causes you to feel pain, do not submit to the initial desire to flee from the suffering one, but on the contrary, come closer, as close as you can to her who suffers, and try to help her.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
Pretence about anything sometimes deceives the wisest and shrewdest man, but, however cunningly it is hidden, a child of the meanest capacity feels it and is repelled by it.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
The religious superstition is encouraged by means of the institution of churches, processions, monuments, festivities....The so-called clergy stupefy the masses....They befog the people and keep them in an eternal condition of stupefaction.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
You will die and it will all be over. You will die and find out everything or cease asking.
Leo Tolstoy
Image
What is important is not the quantity of your knowledge but its quality. You can know many things without knowing the most important.
Leo Tolstoy