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 there existed no external means for dimming their consciences, one-half of the men would at once shoot themselves, because to live contrary to one’s reason is a most intolerable state, and all men of our time are in such a state.

The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.

An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of arrogance. It interferes with a person’s main task in life – becoming a better person.

True life is lived when tiny changes occur.

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.

In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.

It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.

He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.

I think… if it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts.

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

The whole world is divided for me into two parts: one is she, and there is all happiness, hope, light; the other is where she is not, and there is dejection and darkness…

They’ve got no idea what happiness is, they don’t know that without this love there is no happiness or unhappiness for us–there is no life.

Love. The reason I dislike that word is that it means too much for me, far more than you can understand.- Anna Karenina {Anna Karenina}

I’ve always loved you, and when you love someone, you love the whole person, just as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.

I think… if it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts.

I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love.

You can love a person dear to you with a human love, but an enemy can only be loved with divine love.