Leo Tolstoy

About the author

Leo Tolstoy: Father of Anarcho-pacifism

Born on September 9, 1828, in the Russian Empire, Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, commonly known as Leo Tolstoy, made substantial contributions to the world literature, philosophy, and political thought. He achieved worldwide fame through his epic novels like War and Peace and Anna Karenina. A stout pacifist, Tolstoy propagated the notions of non-resistance to violence, simple living and asceticism. His political philosophy, which was eventually termed as Christian Anarchism, had a profound influence on leaders like Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Tolstoy died on November 20, 1910. His thoughts and writings continued to inspire generations of anarchists, philosophers, and writers around the world. His conception of anarchism, which diverged from the prevalent violent strategies of several contemporary anarchists, positioned non-resistance at the center. Tolstoy heavily criticized the state and the church institutions, advocating instead for a society where people adhere to the ethics of Christianity. His philosophical discourses like The Kingdom of God is within you and What I Believe disseminated his intense critique of the state, church, capitalism and the modern industrial society.

Date of Birth: 1828-09-09

Date of Death: 1910-11-20

Country of Birth: Russian Empire

Political Ideas: Non-resistance, Non-cooperation

Quotes Available: 13

Quotes by Leo Tolstoy

No feats of heroism are needed to achieve the greatest and most important changes in the existence of humanity.

Armies are necessary, before all things, for the defense of governments from their own oppressed and enslaved subjects.

We cannot pretend that we do not see the policeman who walks in front of the windows with a loaded revolver, defending us, while we eat our savory dinner or view a new performance, or those soldiers who will immediately go with their guns and loaded cartridges to where our property will be violated.

Power has become invincible, and rests no longer on the higher national foundations of anointed right, election, or representation, but on violence alone.

A commercial company enslaved a nation comprising two hundred millions. Tell this to a man free from superstition and he will fail to grasp what these words mean.

Anarchy will be instituted only by there being more and more people who do not require the protection of governmental power and by there being more and more people who will be ashamed of applying this power.

In our world everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.

Wheresoever it be, there will exist the power of certain men over others, and there will not be freedom, but there will be the oppression of one portion of mankind by another. Therefore power must be abolished.

One thing only is needful: the knowledge of the simple and clear truth which finds place in every soul that is not stupefied by religious and scientific superstitions - the truth that for our life one law is valid - the law of love, which brings the highest happiness to every individual as well as to all mankind.

To be good and lead a good life means to give to others more than one takes from them.

In all history there is no war which was not hatched by the governments, the governments alone, independent of the interests of the people, to whom war is always pernicious even when successful.

If power is to be abolished it must be abolished not by force but by men's consciousness of its uselessness and evil.

As the uselessness and harmfulness of patriotism have become manifest, so also has increased the power of the government and ruling class to excite patriotism among the people.

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