“A wise man loves not because he wants to profit from it but because he finds bliss in love itself.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 39)
Quotes from A Calendar of Wisdom
“It is better to know several basic rules of life than to study many unnecessary sciences. The major rules of life will stop you from evil and show you the good path in life; but the knowledge of many unnecessary sciences may lead you into the temptation of pride, and stop you from understanding the basic rules of life.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 37)
“Your enemy will pay you back with rage, will make you suffer, but the biggest damage to you will be caused by the rage and hatred existing in your heart. Neither your father, nor your mother, nor all your family can make you more good than your heart can when it forgives and forgets its abuse.”
Dhammapada, via A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 35)
“It seems to us that the most important work in the world is the work which is visible, which we can see: building a house, plowing the land, feeding cattle, gathering fruits; and that the work which is invisible, the work done by our soul, is not important. But our invisible work at the improvement of our soul is the most important work in the world, and all other visible kinds of work are useful only when we do this major work.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 33)
“We would think a man insane who, instead of covering his house with a roof and putting windows in his window frames, goes out in stormy weather, and scolds the wind, the rain, and the clouds. But we all do the same when we scold and blame the evil in other people instead of fighting the evil which exists in us. It is possible to get rid of the evil inside of us, as it is possible to make a roof and windows for our house. This is possible. But it is not possible for us to destroy evil in this world, just as we cannot order the weather to change and the clouds to disappear. If, instead of teaching others, we would educate and improve ourselves, then there would be less evil in this world, and all people would live better lives.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 33)
“There are a limitless number of different sciences, but without one basic science, that is, what is the meaning of life and what is good for the people, all other forms of knowledge and art become idle and harmful entertainment.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 30)
“A scholar knows many books; a well-educated person has knowledge and skills; an enlightened person understands the meaning and purpose of his life.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 30)
“If you can teach a person kindness and love, but you do not, you lose a brother.”
Chinese Proverb, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 29)
“Live for your soul, and without trying or even understanding that you’re doing it, you will contribute to the improvement of society.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 29)
“We should be ready to change our views at any time, and slough off prejudices, and live with an open and receptive mind. A sailor who sets the same sails all the time, without making changes when the wind changes, will never reach his harbor.”
Henry George, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 28)
“Who is a good man? Only a man who has faith is good. What is faith? This is when your will is in consent with the world’s conscience and the world’s wisdom.”
Chinese Proverb, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 25)
“The higher the position you occupy among other people, the more humble you should be. Many people live in height and glory, but the mysteries of this world can be revealed only to those who are humble. Do not seek out complication. Treat your duty with respect. Do not study what you should not. More things have already been revealed to you than you can understand.”
Apocrypha, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 23)
“A thought can advance your life in the right direction only when it answers questions which were asked by your soul. A thought which was first borrowed from someone else and then accepted by your mind and memory does not really much influence your life, and sometimes leads you in the wrong direction.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 21)
“Christ expressed all His teachings in His last commandment: ‘Love each other, as I loved you. Everyone will see that you are my disciples, if you love each other.’ He did not say, ‘If you believe,’ but ‘If you love.’ Faith can change with time, because our knowledge is constantly changing. Love, on the contrary, never changes; love is eternal.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 20)
“Kindness enriches our life; with kindness mysterious things become clear, difficult things become easy, and dull things become cheerful.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 19)
“(1) Do not postpone for tomorrow what you can do today. (2) Do not force another person to do what you can do by yourself. (3) Pride costs more than all that is necessary for food, drink, shelter, or dress. (4) We suffer so much, thinking about what could have happened, but not about what has actually happened. (5) If you lose your temper, count up to ten before you do or say anything. If you haven’t calmed down, then count to a hundred; and if you have not calmed down after this, count up to a thousand.”
Thomas Jefferson, via A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 19)
“It’s important to strive to do good, and even more important to strive to abstain from evil.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 18)
“Be afraid to destroy the unity of people by stirring bad feelings amongst them against another with your words.”
Leo Tolstoy, A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 17)
“Those who know the rules of true wisdom are baser than those who love them. Those who love them are baser than those who follow them.”
Chinese Proverb, via A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 15)
“At the heart of all religions lies a single unifying truth. Let Persians bear their taovids, Jews wear their caps, Christians bear their cross, Muslims bear their sickle moon, but we have to remember that these are all only outer signs. The general essence of all religions is love to your neighbor, and that this is requested by Manuf, Zoroaster, Buddha, Moses, Socrates, Jesus, Saint Paul, and Mohammed alike.”
Ewald Flügel, via A Calendar of Wisdom (Page 14)