Tolstoy's life has been devoted to replacing the method of violence for removing tyranny or securing reform by the method of non-resistance to evil. He would meet hatred expressed in violence by love expressed in self-suffering. He admits of no exception to whittle down this great and divine law of love. He applies it to all the problems that trouble mankind.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Tolstoy's life focused on replacing violence with non-resistance and love, applying this principle universally to all human problems.
- In plain terms
- He used love and self-suffering instead of violence to fight evil.
- What can you take from it?
- Non-violence and love should be applied to all conflicts without exception.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is non-violence always practical?
- How do you respond to hatred?
Another view
Absolute non-resistance may not address immediate threats to vulnerable people.
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