The sanctification of political power by Christianity is blasphemy; it is the negation of Christianity.
NIHILIST, n. A Russian who denies the existence of anything but Tolstoi. The leader of the school is Tolstoi.
consistent affection for his characters is what sets Tolstoy apart. Flaubert is equally “objective,” he says, but “Flaubert’s objectivity is charged with irritability and Tolstoy’s with affection. For Flaubert everyone and everything is som...
A great thing is happening on cable TV. You see characters change in stories over years, like in Tolstoy. That's a whole, thrilling new form that I really enjoy. They are Tolstoy-an in their endless character development and narrative changes... a sh...
Art is bad when ‘you see the intent and get put off.’ (Goethe) In Tolstoy one is unaware of the intent, and sees only the thing itself. from the book, On Retranslating A Russian Classic Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
I'm never going to be Tolstoy.
I'm not ugly, but my beauty is a total creation.
Beauty is a short-lived tyranny.
The concept of happiness has to be reorganised.
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.
Philosophy is the highest music.
Corncobs are the greatest fire-making tinder.
There is no unique picture of reality.
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
Government has no other end, but the preservation of property.
The government doesn't have to solve everyone's problem here.
A government is for the benefit of all the people.
Death calls ye to the crowd of common men.
What was God doing before the divine creation?
All generalizations are false, including this one.
Life would be tragic if it weren't funny.
