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Steve Simms
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Listen To Tolstoy
3 stars|3 comments|February 14, 2009|137 reads
 
Here are several quotations from the great Russian novelist, Leo Tolstoy. He was a genius and saw through the rising myths of the 19th Century. Our hope is in learning to see beyond today’s myths into reality. Tolstoy can help us find hope.

“People become slaves when they let themselves drift into the habits of society for the sake of following fashion.” –Leo Tolstoy

“Actions and beliefs of an evil nature are wrong even if many people follow them, and even boast about them.” –Leo Tolstoy

“Accepting as truth that which is offered by academics and scientists, without stopping to examine it by the exercise of our own reason, is the superstition of science.” –Leo Tolstoy

“Much of modern science, spreading harmful beliefs, such as that life is solely a product of material forces, deserves only contempt and ridicule.” –Leo Tolstoy

“The cause of our unfortunate social conditions is that our youths are taught useless and utter nonsense rather than the meaning of life and how to live it.” –Leo Tolstoy (Think about the condition of our schools today.)

“True strength is not muscle, money, or power, but rather mastery over self.” –Leo Tolstoy

“Today, scientists are blindly believed as priests were in ages past.” –Leo Tolstoy

 
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GrammyB
 GrammyB
February 14, 2009

“People become slaves when they let themselves drift into the habits of society for the sake of following fashion.” –Leo Tolstoy

My mom sent home some magazines for me to read -- one was all high fashion.  As I looked through it I was disappointed and sickened by what was considered to be beautiful or fashionable or even affordable.  I realize that Tolstoy was speaking of much more than clothing, but the magazine I looked through and tossed definitely fit with his line of thought.  

Steve Simms
 Steve Simms
February 15, 2009
Good point, GrammyB.
Jay Mitchell
 Jay Mitchell
February 17, 2009
Count Leo would have made a great Jesuit.  Ignatius' directive of "Freedom through discipline" fits many of the aphroisms you quoted, and is the hall mark of the "Spiritual Exercises."