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Leo Tolstoy

What Leo Tolstoy thinks about government

@leo-tolstoy · 40 positions

Russian novelist and moral philosopher (1828 to 1910); author of War and Peace and The Kingdom of God Is Within You.

Leo Tolstoy did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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Only Leo Tolstoy on government. See everyone on government

3 dated positions, c. 1893–1894, in their own words. Our reading of what Leo Tolstoy has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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  1. Our readingAsking governments to give up violence is asking them to abolish themselves

    Their wordsTo suggest to governments that they should not have recourse to violence, but should decide their misunderstandings in accordance with equity, is inviting them to abolish themselves as rulers, and that no government can ever consent to do.

    ↗The Kingdom of God Is Within You (1894; Constance Garnett translation)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book

  3. Our readingGovernment may suppress private violence but always brings growing violence of its own

    Their wordsGovernment authority, even if it does suppress private violence, always introduces into the life of men fresh forms of violence, which tend to become greater and greater in proportion to the duration and strength of the government.

    ↗The Kingdom of God Is Within You (1894; Constance Garnett translation)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book

  5. Our readingTrue Christianity is incompatible with government and its violence, executions and wars

    Their wordsBut no honest and serious-minded man of our day can help seeing the incompatibility of true Christianity—the doctrine of meekness, forgiveness of injuries, and love—with government, with its pomp, acts of violence, executions, and wars.

    ↗The Kingdom of God Is Within You (1894; Constance Garnett translation)gutenberg.org All 20 from this book