Quotes from book

War and Peace

“The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience.”

“All we can know is that we know nothing. And that's the height of human wisdom.”

“Time and Patience.”

“I simply want to live; to cause no evil to anyone but myself.”

“You say: I am not free. But I have raised and lowered my arm. Everyone understands that this illogical answer is an irrefutable proof of freedom.”

“In the best, the friendliest and simplest relations flattery or praise is necessary, just as grease is necessary to keep wheels turning.”

“A man's every action is inevitably conditioned by what surrounds him and by his own body.”

“Life is too long to say anything definitely; always say perhaps.”

“Smiling with pleasure, they went through their memories, not sad, old people's memories, but poetic, youthful ones, those impressions from the very distant past where dream merges with reality, and they laughed softly, rejoicing at something.”

“Life did not stop, and one had to live.”

“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.”

“It's not those who are handsome we love, but those we love who are handsome.”

“Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly. It is the one thing we are interested in here.”

“We imagine that when we are thrown out of our usual ruts all is lost, but it is only then that what is new and good begins. While there is life there is happiness. There is much, much before us.”

“But our idea is that the wolves should be fed and the sheep kept safe.”

“It's all God's will: you can die in your sleep, and God can spare you in battle.”

“In order to understand, observe, deduce, man must first be conscious of himself as alive.”

“He did what heroes do after their work is accomplished; he died.”

“Though the doctors treated him, let his blood, and gave him medications to drink, he nevertheless recovered.”