Leo Tolstoy calls it his first true novel. The world has dubbed it as one of the greatest novels ever written. If you haven’t read Anna Karenina, you really should. In the meantime, we curated the best Leo Tolstoy quotes from Anna Karenina to give you a glimpse of how masterfully written this book is.
Who is Leo Tolstoy?
Born on September 9, 1828, Leo Tolstoy is not just any Russian writer and philosopher but he’s also recognized as one of the greatest novelists to ever live. “Anna Karenina” and “War and Peace” are two of his greatest masterpieces. The world continues to hold Tolstoy’s famous works in high esteem because of their complexity, intricacy and profundity.
Tolstoy’s books are still celebrated, widely read and studied around the world today because of their timelessness. His exploration of classic themes such as love and morality continue to be relevant, a testament to how brilliant Tolstoy’s mind and intellectual curiosity are.
What is Anna Karenina About?
Anna Karenina was published in book form in 1878 then adapted into film in 1997. As the book title suggests, the story is centered around Anna Karenina’s tragic life. She is a married woman who had an affair with an army officer, Count Alexei Vronsky. And in 19th-century Russia, affairs were massive scandals that led to condemnation.
What makes this classic novel such as a masterpiece is the fact that it’s not just a love story. It also explores other important themes such as morality, social norms and existentialism.
More than the vivid writing, Tolstoy draws you in with his profound insight on human psychology. As his character grapples with life’s questions, the reader struggles with them. Reading this book is a journey in itself.
Get Inspired: 100+ Powerful Quotes from Jordan Peterson
Leo Tolstoy Quotes from Anna Karenina
You know a book is worth reading when one-liners provoke thought and pique interest. Here are some of the best Leo Tolstoy quotes from Anna Karenina:
“If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.”
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
“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.”
“Respect was invented to cover the empty place where love should be.”
“Rummaging in our souls, we often dig up something that ought to have lain there unnoticed.”
“Love. The reason I dislike that word is that it means too much for me, far more than you can understand.”
“Be bad, but at least don’t be a liar, a deceiver!”
“The greatest truths are the simplest, and so are the greatest men.”
“All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.”
“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.”
“But the law of loving others could not be discovered by reason, because it is unreasonable.”
“It’s hard to love a woman and do anything.”
“If you love me as you say you do,’ she whispered, ‘make it so that I am at peace.”
“He was afraid of defiling the love which filled his soul.”
“Not one word, not one gesture of yours shall I, could I, ever forget…”
“What a strange illusion it is to suppose that beauty is goodness.”
“Every heart has its own skeletons.”..
“I’m like a starving man who has been given food. Maybe he’s cold, and his clothes are torn, and he’s ashamed, but he’s not unhappy.”
“There can be no peace for us, only misery, and the greatest happiness.”
“And you know, there’s less charm in life when you think about death–but it’s more peaceful.”
Leo Tolstoy Books in Order
If you want to read more of Tolstoy, here are 10 more of his books in the order they were published:
- Three Deaths – 1859
- God Sees the Truth, But Waits – 1872
- A Confession – 1882
- What Men Live By – 1885
- The Death of Ivan Ilyich – 1886
- How Much Land Does a Man Need? – 1886
- Master and Man – 1895
- What is Art? – 1897
- Resurrection – 1899
- The Devil – 1911
Which Leo Tolstoy Quotes are Your Favorite?
With so many thought-provoking quotes from Leo Tolstoy, it’s hard to pick a favorite. But if I really have to, it’s this one, “If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.” Between perfection and contentment, the latter is a far worthier goal to pursue in life.
Leave a Reply