Leo Tolstoy: A Brief Biography

Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) was a Russian novelist, philosopher, and moral thinker, renowned as one of the greatest authors of all time. Born into an aristocratic family in Tula, Russia, Tolstoy is best known for his monumental novels War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877). His later years were defined by his spiritual awakening and turn to Christian anarchism, pacifism, and a rejection of material wealth.

Key Works:

1. War and Peace – A sweeping epic about love, war, and history, set during the Napoleonic Wars.

2. Anna Karenina – A profound exploration of love, society, and morality through the lens of a tragic affair.

3. The Death of Ivan Ilyich – A novella about the existential crisis of a dying man.

4. Resurrection – A critique of institutional religion and the justice system, advocating for moral responsibility.

5. What Is Art? – A treatise on aesthetics and the moral purpose of art.

Notable Phrases:

\"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.\"

\"If you want to be happy, be.\"

\"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.\" (Anna Karenina)

\"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.\" (War and Peace)

\"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.\"

Tolstoy\'s Views and Sentiment:

Tolstoy believed in the transformative power of love, nonviolence, and personal morality. He criticized organized religion, state authority, and wealth, promoting a simpler, spiritually driven life. His writings often reflect a deep empathy for humanity and a quest for universal truth and justice. Tolstoy’s philosophy influenced figures like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.