What I BelieveOriginally published in 1885, What I Believe is part of series of books by novelist Leo Tolstoy that outline his personal interpretation of Christian theology. After a midlife crisis at age 50, he began to believe in the moral teachings of Christianity, while rejecting mysticism and organized religion. He believed that pacifism and poverty were the paths to enlightenment. His precepts of nonviolence even influenced Mohandas Gandhi. Students of religion, political science, and literature alike will gain new understanding from the ideas presented in this book. Students of literature will get to understand more deeply one of the greatest novelist in history, while those interested in religion and politics can see how Tolstoy's philosophy came to influence the world at large. Russian writer COUNT LEV ("LEO") NIKOLAYEVICH TOLSTOY (1828-1910) is best known for his novels War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877). |
From inside the book
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Page 3
... suffering likewise , and I saw no way out of this state of misery but through death . Like the thief , I was nailed , as it were by some invisible power , to this life of suffering and evil ; and the same dreadful darkness of death ...
... suffering likewise , and I saw no way out of this state of misery but through death . Like the thief , I was nailed , as it were by some invisible power , to this life of suffering and evil ; and the same dreadful darkness of death ...
Page 9
... suffering , I was left alone with the mysterious Book , in which the doctrine of Christ is taught . I could not interpret it as others did , I could not abjure the Book , and yet I could not find a new and satisfying inter- pretation ...
... suffering , I was left alone with the mysterious Book , in which the doctrine of Christ is taught . I could not interpret it as others did , I could not abjure the Book , and yet I could not find a new and satisfying inter- pretation ...
Page 11
... suffering . I said to myself : Well , I will turn my cheek - I will let myself be smitten again ; I will give up my coat - they shall take my all . They shall even take away my life . Yet life is given to me : why should I thus lose it ...
... suffering . I said to myself : Well , I will turn my cheek - I will let myself be smitten again ; I will give up my coat - they shall take my all . They shall even take away my life . Yet life is given to me : why should I thus lose it ...
Page 12
... suffer ; but He teaches us not to resist evil , and warns us that so doing may involve personal suffering . Does a father , on seeing his son set out on a long journey , tell him to pass sleepless nights , to eat little , to get wet ...
... suffer ; but He teaches us not to resist evil , and warns us that so doing may involve personal suffering . Does a father , on seeing his son set out on a long journey , tell him to pass sleepless nights , to eat little , to get wet ...
Page 13
... suffering , and even death , without resist- ing evil . ' He prepared for suffering and death Him- self without resisting evil ; reproved Peter , who grieved over Him because He proposed thus to yield ; and He died , forbidding others ...
... suffering , and even death , without resist- ing evil . ' He prepared for suffering and death Him- self without resisting evil ; reproved Peter , who grieved over Him because He proposed thus to yield ; and He died , forbidding others ...
Other editions - View all
What I Believe: Translated from the Russian by Constantine Popoff Leo Tolstoy No preview available - 1999 |
Common terms and phrases
acknowledge amongst anger answer believe brethren Christ says Christ's doctrine Christ's words Christian Church clear clearly commandments of Christ commit adultery condemn consider contrary courts of law creed dead death deeds deprive destroy disciples Divine doctrine of Christ earth enjoined Epistle of James eternal law existence explain faith Father fellow-creatures follow forbids fulfil give given Gospel according happiness hath Hebrew language Hebrews human idea individual interpretation John John Chrysostom judge kill kingdom kingdom of God labour law of Christ light likewise love thy neighbour Luke mankind Matt Matthew meaning Mosaic law Moses neighbour never oath obey peace perish Pharisees precept prophets punishment rational resist evil resist not evil Sadducees salvation saved say unto sense suffering swear Talmud taught teaching of Christ thee things Thou shalt tion tooth true truth understand understood verse violence whosoever wife written law