A couple of choice quotes from Tolstoy’s non-fiction writings:
“There is no other love than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friend. Love is love only when it is the sacrifice of one’s self. Only when a man gives to another, not merely his time and his strength, but when he spends his body for the beloved object, gives up his life for him- only this do we all acknowledge as love; and only in such love do we all find happiness, the reward of love. And only in virtue of the fact that there is such love toward men, only in this, does the world stand” (Life, 383).
“You dash about, struggle – all because you want to swim in you own current. But alongside of you, unceasing and near to everyone, there flows the divine and infinite current of love, in one and the same course. When you are thoroughly exhausted in your attempts to do something for yourself, to save yourself, to secure yourself, then drop all your own course, throw yourself into that current; and it will carry you, and you will feel that there are no barriers, that you are at peace forever and free and blessed” (Journal, 176f).
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5 responses to “Leo Tolstoy, Part Two”
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Thanks Todd, this contribution is worthy of many more comments.
What strikes me is Tolstoy's choice of categorical/unqualified language (e.g. 'no other' 'only when' 'only in' 'thoroughly exhausted' 'no barriers' 'at peace forever'). I wonder if modern congregations, some of whom shy away from absolute statements, would be able to hear this in the same way?
tolstoi did pure law really well. no gospel whatsoever but the law looks doable without the gospel.
just.try.harder.
these are essential tolstoi. thanks for presenting them to us!
Todd, these are amazing quotes. Thank you.
The first quote, by itself, would seem to be a no-win, how-can-I-ever-do-this, crank it out yourself call to be good, but just put the two quotes together. Call the flow love or grace or our original-self, but only there and with that can we truly love.
joe, that was sort of the point behind placing them side-by-side. Tolstoy has a very radical ethic and is consequently often misunderstood. But what lies undernearth his ethic is a truly Christian sense of man's inability apart from grace.