How Much Land Does a Man Need? Quotes by Leo Tolstoy (2024)

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“I understood that men only think that they live by caring only about themselves: in reality they live by love alone.”
― Leo Tolstoy, How Much Land Does a Man Need?

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“An elder sister came from the town to visit her younger sister in the country. This elder sister was married to a merchant and the younger to a peasant in the village. The two sisters sat down for a talk over a cup of tea and the elder started boasting about the superiority of town life, with all its comforts, the fine clothes her children wore, the exquisite food and drink, parties and visits to the theatre.
The younger sister resented this and in turn scoffed at the life of a merchant's wife and sang the praise of her own life as a peasant.
'I wouldn't care to change my life for yours,' she said. 'I admit mine is dull, but at least we have no worries. You live in grander style, but you must do a great deal of business or you'll be ruined. You know the proverb, "Loss is Gain's elder brother." One day you are rich and the next you might find yourself out in the street. Here in the country we don't have these ups and downs. A peasant's life may be poor, but it's long. Although we may never be rich, we'll always have enough to eat.'
Then the elder sister said her piece.
'Enough to eat but nothing but those filthy pigs and calves! What do you know about nice clothes and good manners! However hard your good husband slaves away you'll spend your lives in the muck and that's where you'll die. And the same goes for your children.'
'Well, what of it?' the younger answered. 'That's how it is here. But at least we know where we are. We don't have to crawl to anyone and we're afraid of no one. But you in town are surrounded by temptations. All may be well one day, the next the Devil comes along and tempts your husband with cards, women and drink. And then you're ruined. It does happen, doesn't it?”
― Leo Tolstoy, How Much Land Does a Man Need?

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“You live in better style than we do, but though you often earn more than you need, you are very likely to lose all you have. You know the proverb, 'Loss and gain are brothers twain.' It often happens that people who are wealthy one day are begging their bread the next.”
― Leo Tolstoy, How Much Land Does a Man Need?

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“At first, in the bustle of building and settling down, Pahom was pleased with it all, but when he got used to it he began to think that even here he had not enough land.”
― Leo Tolstoy, How Much Land Does a Man Need?

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“Recuerda lo que dice el proverbio: "la ganancia es hermana de la pérdida". A menudo sucede que hoy eres rico y mañana estás mendigando un pedazo de pan. En cambio, la vida del campesino es más segura: modesta, pero larga; nunca seremos ricos, pero siempre tendremos qué comer.”
― Leo Tolstoi, How Much Land Does a Man Need?

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“Next morning, when Semyon woke up, the children were still asleep and his wife had gone over to the neighbour's to borrow some bread. Only the stranger was sitting on the bench, wearing the old trousers and shirt and looking up. His face was brighter than the evening before. Semyon said, 'Well, my friend. The belly needs food and the body clothes. We all have to earn a living, so what sort of work can you do?'
'I can't do anything.'
Semyon was amazed and replied, 'If a man has the will he can learn anything.'
'Yes, men work for their living, so I'll work too.'
'What's your name?'
'Mikhail.'
'Well, Mikhail, if you don't want to tell us about yourself that's your affair. But we have to earn our living. If you do as I tell you I'll see you have enough to eat.'
'God bless you! I'll learn how to work, just tell me what to do.'
Semyon took a piece of yarn, wound it round his fingers and twisted it.
'It's not hard, just watch...'
Mikhail watched and right away he caught the knack, winding the yarn and twisting it just like Semyon.
Then Semyon showed him how to wax it and Mikhail understood at once. Then he showed him how to draw it through and how to stitch. Again Mikhail immediately understood.
Whatever Semyon showed him he mastered right away and within three days was working as if he had been making shoes all his life. He would work without any let-up and ate very little. Only when one job was finished would he stop for a moment and silently look up. He never went out, only spoke when he really had to, and he never joked or laughed.”
― Leo Tolstoy, How Much Land Does a Man Need?

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“There is plenty of land," thought he, "but will God let me live on it? I have lost my life, I have lost my life! I shall never reach that spot!”
― Leo Tolstoy, How Much Land Does a Man Need?

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