99 Leo Tolstoy Quotes That Offer Timeless Wisdom

Leo Tolstoy, one of the most influential writers in history, left behind a legacy of profound insights that continue to resonate with readers worldwide. His works, such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are not just masterpieces of literature but also reflects his deep philosophical and moral reflections. Beyond the pages of his novels, Tolstoy’s quotes offer timeless wisdom on topics ranging from love and peace to the complexities of human nature. Whether he was pondering the nature of happiness, the value of simple living, or the importance of inner peace, Tolstoy’s words have the power to challenge, inspire, and guide us. This collection of Leo Tolstoy quotes invites us to reflect on his ideas and find relevance in them for our own lives today.

Leo Tolstoy Quotes

1. “The humbler a person is, the freer and stronger he is.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

2. “We lost because we told ourselves we lost.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

3. “A truly wise man is always joyful.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

4. “The best the future can offer is dreams. There is only one thing which really exists: the present.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
5. “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
6. “If you are not kind to a person, you are not fulfilling your major obligation.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
7. “Try to find out your potential. After you know it, do not be afraid to underestimate it. Be cautious not to exaggerate it.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
8. “The life of a person without faith is the life of an animal.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
9. “Grow spiritually and help others to do so; it is the meaning of life.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
10. “A person cannot have complete understanding of the meaning of life. A person can only know its direction.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Best Leo Tolstoy Quotes

11. “For a person to know the law that makes him free, he must be elevated from a material to a spiritual life.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
12. “The greatest bliss a person can know is the state of complete freedom and happiness that can come only through self-sacrifice and love.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
13. “The best and the most important object for every person is his inner self, his spiritual being.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
14. “People can live without need and without jealousy only when they lead a life of moderation.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
15. “The teaching about your inner life is the most useful one.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
16. “Just imagine that the purpose of your life is your happiness only – then life becomes a cruel and senseless thing […] The meaning of life is to serve the force that sent you into the world. Then life becomes a constant joy.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
17. “Your rage cannot be justified by anything. The reason for your rage is always inside you.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
18. “The greatest knowledge is self-knowledge.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
19. “We should be satisfied with the small things in life. The less we need, the less trouble we can have.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
20. “You should look in suffering for the seeds of your future spiritual growth, or the bitterness of suffering will be severe.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Quotes by Leo Tolstoy

21. “Our purpose is to make it a better and more joyous place to live, for those who live with us and those who come after us.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
22. “Time does not exist. There is only a small and infinite present, and it is only in this present that our life occurs. Therefore, a person should concentrate all his spiritual force only on this present.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
23. “He who always listens to what other people say about him will never find inner peace.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
24. “Live your life in such a way that you neither hide nor have a wish to display your life to people.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
25. “Your understanding of your inner self holds the meaning of your life.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
26. “Without suffering, spiritual growth cannot happen.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
27. “Good things, once done, will never disappear, even if you forget about them.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
28. “Kindness is for your soul as health is for your body: you do not notice when you have it.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
29. “Just as fire blows out candles, good deeds for the benefit of others destroy a selfish life.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
30. “Nothing can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Famous Leo Tolstoy Quotes

31. “When you approach a man, you should think not about how he can help you, but how you might serve and help him.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
32. “Do not expect some tangible reward for your goodness; your actions are their own reward.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
33. “Every person should make a small effort, even the smallest effort, to improve the general well-being of humanity.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
34. “What reward should a good deed bring you? Only the joy you receive by performing it. And any other reward lessens the feeling of this joy.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
35. “When you do a good deed, be grateful that you have had the chance to do it.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
36. “For a truth to be heard, it must be spoken with kindness.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
37. “Kindness defeats everything and can never be defeated.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
38. “Kindness is the major quality of the soul. If a person is not kind, it is because he was subjected to some lie, passion, or temptation which violated his natural state.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
39. “Art is not a handicraft; it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
40. “A man who does not understand the benefit of suffering does not live a clever and true life.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy Quotes about Life

41. “A good life is given only to those who make efforts to achieve it.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
42. “Abstain from all unnecessary things.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
43. “All good things can be achieved only with effort.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
44. “The improvement of man can be measured by the level of his inner freedom. The more a person becomes free from his personality, the more freedom he has.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
45. “If you want to preserve your good name, do not praise yourself and do not so much as allow others to praise you.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
46. “Our invisible work at the improvement of our soul is the most important work in the world, and all other visible kinds of work are useful only when we do this major work.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
47. “A person can always improve himself.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
48. “A person can understand his real destination in life only after he manages to liberate from the sensual, material world.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
49. “You should live in such a way that you can confide anything in your mind.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
50. “Really true, good, and great things are always simple.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Inspirational Leo Tolstoy Quotes

51. “The most important thing in life is the path to perfection, and what kind of perfection can exist if a person is proud and satisfied with himself?” ~ Leo Tolstoy
52. “Good books are a good influence. Good art is a good influence. Prayer is an influence as well. But the strongest influence is the example of a good life.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
53. “Your life may be cut short at any time; therefore, your life should have a deep purpose, a significance that will not depend on whether it is short or long.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
54. “Life is constant movement, and therefore goodness in life is not a certain state, but the direction of movement.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
55. “Life is a constant approach to death; therefore, life can be bliss only when death does not seem to be an evil.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
56. “Life is constant change; it ought to consist of weakening the material and increasing the spiritual side of our existence.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
57. “It is better to know several basic rules of life than to study many unnecessary sciences.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
58. “Our soul’s perfection is our life’s purpose; any other purpose, keeping death in mind, has no substance.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
59. “If you care too much about being praised, in the end you will not accomplish anything serious.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
60. “Perfection is impossible without humility. Why should I strive for perfection, if I am already good enough?” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy Quotes about Love

61. “You should do goodness without choosing to whom.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
62. “Try to live with the part of your soul which understands eternity, which is not afraid of death. And that part of your soul is love.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
63. “Love provides a person with the purpose of his life. Intellect shows him the means to achieve that purpose.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
64. “There is no love in the future. Love can exist only in the present moment. A man who does not manifest love in the present does not love at all.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
65. “A person who loves himself has the advantage of having very few competitors.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
66. “Let us forgive each other. If we can forgive each other, then we can live in peace.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
67. “Among all actions, there is only one type which is complete, and that is love which seeks no reward.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
68. “Truly virtuous is the person who gives his love to the weak.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
69. “There is only one thing in this world which is worth dedicating all your life. This is creating more love among people and destroying barriers which exist between them.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
70. “That feeling which solves all of the contradictions of human life and gives one the greatest bliss is known to all people: this feeling is love.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy Quotes about Wisdom

71. “Only he who accepts that the essence or meaning of his life is not material but spiritual can be free.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
72. “Perhaps it is even more important to know what one should not think about than what one should think about.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
73. “We suffer from the past, and we spoil our future because we neglect the present.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
74. “In order to change the nature of things, either within yourself or in others, one should change, not the events, but those thoughts which created those events.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
75. “Nobody knows where the human race is going. The highest wisdom, then, is to know where you should go toward perfection.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
76. “The most important knowledge is that which guides the way you lead your life.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
77. “There is no wisdom in he who thinks that he is wise.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
78. “When you have doubts about what to do, just imagine that you might die at the end of that same day, and then all your doubts will disappear.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
79. “The more urgently you want to speak, the more likely it is that you will say something foolish.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
80. “The more upset a person is with other people, and with circumstances, and the more satisfied he is with himself, the further he is from wisdom.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Short Leo Tolstoy Quotes

81. “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
82. “Make sure that you do not gossip about your brother.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
83. “Real love is not in words but in deeds, and only love can give real wisdom.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
84. “Anything you do should be filled with love.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
85. “We should live so as to bring good to all people.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
86. “If you want to save your soul, forget about your comfort.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
87. “Society can be improved only by self-sacrifice.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
88. “Try to be a master over greed, sloth, lechery, and rage.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
89. “The less love a person has, the more he suffers.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
90. “My religion is to love all beings.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy Quote

91. “The future does not really exist. It is created by us in the present.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
92. “A scholar knows many books; a well-educated person has knowledge and skills; an enlightened person understands the meaning and purpose of his life.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
93. “There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
94. “Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
95. “It’s important to strive to do good, and even more important to strive to abstain from evil.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
96. “Wisdom is limitless, and the closer you approach it, the more important it becomes for your life.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
97. “Life is constant change; it ought to consist of weakening the material and increasing the spiritual side of our existence.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
98. “Deny your personality, and you will come to understand the highest good in life: love.” ~ Leo Tolstoy
99. “Self-sacrifice brings a bliss that far transcends the pleasure of a person who lives by the self-indulgent satisfaction of his animal passions.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

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