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by
Leo Tolstoy
Started reading
March 2, 2023
“I cannot understand how some people can live without communicating with the wisest people who ever lived on Earth? … I feel very happy every day, because I read this book.”
So humble, nice idea though
Yes, we should be grateful for the best books, for the best spiritual achievements in our lives.
The difference between real material poison and intellectual poison is that most material poison is disgusting to the taste, but intellectual poison, which takes the form of cheap newspapers or bad books, can unfortunately sometimes be attractive.
Put at least half of your energy into making yourself free of empty wishes, and very soon you will see that in so doing you will receive much greater fulfillment and happiness. —After EPICTETUS
Live for your soul, and without trying or even understanding that you’re doing it, you will contribute to the improvement of society.
It would be nice if wisdom had such a quality that it could flow from one man who is full of wisdom to another man who has no wisdom, just as with two connected vessels water flows from one vessel to the other until the water level is the same in both of them. The problem is that to obtain wisdom, you must make an independent, serious effort of your own.
Not crazy about the quote but
good to know it has been
around for a long time.
Where do we go after death? We go to where we came from.
Sounds good and reasonable but no real reason for it to be true.
Only greatly insolent people establish a religious law which is to be taken for granted by others, which should be accepted by everyone on faith, without any discussion or doubts.
The essence of the teaching of Christ is to follow his commandments. Those who just repeat, “My God, My Lord” will not get to heaven; only those who fulfill God’s will.
You must learn this over time, and remember that your real life is in your spirit, that is, in your soul. Save it from everyday dirt and do not let your flesh guide it; subdue your body to your soul,
from the material to the spiritual domain, the less you become afraid of death. A person who lives a truly spiritual life has no fear of death. 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, and you will see clearly what your conscience tells you, and what is your true personal wish.
to philosophize is to learn how
to die.
from the material to the spiritual domain, the less you become afraid of death. A person who lives a truly spiritual life has no fear of death. 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, and you will see clearly what your conscience tells you, and what is your true personal wish.
this might be a bit dangerous...
It is a sin not to be engaged in work, even if it is not necessary for you to make your living with everyday work.
the idea is not to have to work
Not not working
Work all the time. Do not think that work is a disaster for you, and do not seek praise or reward for your work. —MARCUS AURELIUS
Can't say I remembered this
quote
The most outstanding gifts can be destroyed by idleness. —MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE
And yet he put himself among the
laziest of the bunch.
If you think it is ever warranted to stop on the path of further understanding, you are very far from the truth.
There was a time when people ate each other. They no longer do so, but they still eat animals. The time will come when more and more people will drop this terrible habit.
hopefully not before I die
It may be written in some books that it is not a sin to kill an animal, but it is written in our own hearts more clearly than in any books—that
I respectfully disagree
A wise person never considers himself to be wise.
Wisdom is limitless, and the closer you approach it, the more important it becomes for your life.
We should live our lives as if everyone could see us, as if the most secret corners of our soul were open to the sight of others.
Seek the truth: it always shows us what we should do, what we should not do, and what we should stop doing.
Mankind has never achieved greatness but through suffering. —F. ROBERT DE LAMENNAIS
The worst mistake which was ever made in this world was the separation of political science from ethics.
ethics vs legalese
you just need a good lawyer for the latter.
Once upon a time, a Roman empress lost her precious jewelry. It was announced across the empire that whoever found her lost stones before thirty days would receive a big reward, but any who returned the jewelry after thirty days would be executed. Samuel, a Jewish rabbi, found the precious stones, but he returned them after thirty days had passed. “Have you been abroad?” the Roman empress asked him. “No, I was at home.” “Maybe you did not know what was proclaimed?” “No, I knew,” said Samuel. “Then why did you not return these things before the expiry of the thirty days? Now you have to be
...more
The quality of a really virtuous person is to be unknown to people, or to be misunderstood by people, but not to be disappointed by this.
goodness in life is not a certain state, but the direction of movement.
Anyone who is engaged in really important things is very simple because he does not have time to create unnecessary things.
every vice grows after it is satisfied.
In our society, people who participate in constant dissipations turn down the light of the intellect with addictive things such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
Making yourself addicted is not a crime, but it is a preparation for crime.
Some people say, “It is not important if you drink or smoke.” If it is of no importance, then why not just stop, if you know that you harm y...
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Real goodness is not something that can be acquired in an instant, but only through constant effort, because real goodness lies in constantly striving for perfection.
People jump back and forth in pursuit of pleasures only because they see the emptiness of their lives more clearly than they do the emptiness of whichever new entertainment attracts them. —BLAISE PASCAL
A misconception remains a misconception, even when it is shared by the majority of the people.
The world would be a terrible place without newborn children, who bring with them innocence, and the hope of man’s further perfection.
If you know that you lack faith, know also that you are in one of the most dangerous situations in this world a person can be in. It is bad not to have something for which you are ready to die.
Salvation lies not in rituals and not in a particular creed, but in a clear understanding of the meaning of your life.
The biggest obstacles to understanding the truth are lies disguised as truth. In real life illusions can only transform our life for a moment, but in the domain of thoughts and the intellect, misconceptions may be accepted as truth for thousands of years,
The exposure of a lie is as valuable to a community as a clearly expressed truth.
Look for the truth; it wants to be found. —BLAISE PASCAL
Work toward the purification of your thoughts. Without bad thoughts you will be incapable of bad deeds. —CONFUCIUS
Knowledge is limitless, and the most scholarly and educated person is as far from true knowledge as an uneducated peasant. —JOHN RUSKIN
Truth is achieved through discussion, but the wiser man stops the arguments.
You should be brave enough to use your own intellect, in life and in your education. —IMMANUEL KANT
In the important questions of life, we are always alone. Our deepest inner thoughts cannot be understood by others. The best part of the drama that goes on deep in our soul is a monologue, or, better to say, a very sincere conversation between God, our conscience, and ourself. —HENRI AMIEL
A sage is not afraid of lack of knowledge: he is not afraid of hesitations, or hard work, but he is afraid of only one thing—to pretend to know the things which he does not know. You should study more to understand that you know little. —MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE
There are two ways not to suffer from poverty. The first is to acquire more wealth. The second is to limit your requirements.
Illnesses of the mind are much more dangerous than illnesses of the body. —MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO Do not be afraid of illness, and do not think that being ill frees you from your moral requirements.
God is not an idol; he is an ideal which we should strive for in our everyday life.
