A Calendar of Wisdom: Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul, Written and Se

by Leo Tolstoy

People very often do not accept the truth, because they do not like the form in which the truth is presented to them.

If you know the truth, or if you think that you know the truth, try to pass it on to the others, as simply as you can, along with the feeling of love for those persons to whom you pass it.

Nothing can give a man strength when he is looking for salvation other than his own effort.

One of the most common mistakes is to think that you can live without truth. The inner and outer consequences of even the smallest lies are usually more harmful than those small unpleasant things which result from telling the truth directly.

Pleasure is as important as work, and is the reward of work.

Work and pleasure should be alternated, one after the other; they fill our lives with joy, though not every work and every pleasure can do this.

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

A person who stands on his tiptoes cannot stand long, and a person who is too proud of himself cannot set a good example.

Whether they know it or not, all creatures are inseparably connected.

Understand that you are part of a great spiritual brotherhood;

the outer world in itself is not as we see it, and thus everything material in this world is insignificant. What is important then? That thing which exists everywhere, at all times, and for all people: the divine spark, the spiritual root of our lives.

The greatest virtue is to do no evil, even to your enemies. If you respect yourself, you will not commit evil, even in the slightest way.

When you throw a ball up in the air, it doesn’t stay there but returns to the earth; likewise all your good or bad actions will return to you in another form, according to the desire of your heart, no matter which path you take.

The prerequisite of a good life is peace between people, and the major obstacle to peace is pride. A person should be humble, prepared to be falsely accused, ready for everything; only then can he bring peace into his relationships and into the lives of others.

Pride defends itself, and not only itself but other sins, and it hates humility, so it rejects the cure, and hides and justifies the sin.

Be strict in judging yourself and gentle in judging others, and you will have no enemies.

Do not be afraid to be humiliated if you can accept this with humility—you will be repaid many times in the spiritual blessings which are connected with being humble.

Without truth there is no kindness; without kindness the truth cannot be told.

Disguising yourself as a kind person is worse than being nakedly mean.

He who defeats others is strong; he who defeats himself is powerful, and he who knows when he dies that he will not be destroyed is eternal.

Every thought a person dwells upon, whether he expresses it or not, either damages or improves his life.

To vanquish sin, you must accept that the root of each sin is in a bad thought. We are all only the consequences of what we think.

You should look in suffering for the seeds of your future spiritual growth, or the bitterness of suffering will be severe.

When you make an effort not to blame other people, your life becomes much easier,

The more strictly and mercilessly you judge yourself, the more just and kind you will be in the judgment of others.

If you make it a habit not to blame others, you will feel the growth of the ability to love in your soul, and you will see the growth of goodness in your life.

listen now to the voice of your conscience and accept it as the greatest authority. Always ask yourself, do my actions coincide with my conscience? And do not be afraid to arrive at meanings different from other people’s.

We can understand wisdom in three ways: first, by meditation; this is the most noble way. Secondly, by being influenced by someone or following someone; this is the easiest way. Third is the way of experience; this is the most difficult way.

There is only one real knowledge: that which helps us to be free. Every other type of knowledge is mere amusement.

When everything you see appears in dark, gloomy shades, and seems baleful, and you want to tell others only bad and unpleasant things, do not trust your perceptions.

“How do I live my life in the best way?”

The more people believe that others can improve their lives, the slower any improvement will occur.

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. Pay bad people with your goodness; fight their hatred with your kindness. Even if you do not achieve victory over other people, you will conquer yourself.

tell yourself: “I will love everyone whom I meet in this life.” Try to follow this rule; and you will see that everything will find its way, and everything will seem simple, and you will no longer have doubts or fears.

The person who speaks much will seldom fulfill all his words in his actions.

A wise person is always wary lest his words surpass his actions.

A person is higher than an animal because of his ability to speak, but he is lower than an animal if he cannot properly use this ability.

If you want to stop a person from an action, ask him to speak more on the topic. The more people speak, the less desire they have to act.

The less you speak, the more you will work.

He who is really skillful in communicating with people is usually a humble and quiet person. This is called the virtue of nonresistance.

The language of truth is always simple.

The clearest and simplest notions are almost always concealed by sophisticated meditations.

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 him who suffers, and try to help him.

as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

A person who knows the law but does not fulfill it reminds me of one who plows the land but does not put seed in it.

Those who think that they can live a high spiritual life whose bodies are filled with idleness and luxuries are mistaken.

Every man, from the king to the poorest pauper, should seek his own perfection, because only self-perfection improves mankind.

Sometimes material prosperity and moral goodness clash in conflict. These sufferings lead to the highest elevation of spirit.

all that you do with love, you do for yourself.

The reward for virtue is the understanding of the good deed.