(Translated by Joel Carmichael)
Some people say Anna Karenina
is the single greatest novel ever written, which makes about as much
sense to me as trying to determine the world's greatest color. But there
is no doubt that Anna Karenina, generally considered Tolstoy's
best book, is definitely one ripping great read. Anna, miserable in her
loveless marriage, does the barely thinkable and succumbs to her
desires for the dashing Vronsky. I don't want to give away the ending,
but I will say that 19th-century Russia doesn't take well to that sort
of thing.
This book, which was written shortly after the serfs had been given independence, is timeless. It could have been written in our own day as well as any time in history. Reading this book gives insights into the world of Leo Tolstoy, both in his search to balance his secular life in a world of conflicting government instability and a world of increasing moral decay, as well as his sometimes all encompassing drive to develop spiritual understanding. The age old question of the conflict between which is best, arranged marriage, or a marriage in which the couple already love each other, permeates each life in the story. Now that my appetite has been wet, it would be fascinating to do a deeper study of Russian history!
A few of my favorite quotes from this book:
"That's true," s aid Levin, "What happens most of the time is that the only reason you argue so heatedly is because you simply can't make out just what your opponent is trying to prove."
"The very joy of forgiveness had seen to it that he suddenly felt not only relief from his own sufferings, but also a spiritual peace he had never experienced before."
"If you love your own offspring then, as a kind father, you will wish not only riches, luxury, and honors for your child, you will wish for its salvation, its spiritual illumination by the light of truth."
"...credit... stock market... speculation." "a country's wealth ought to grow evenly, more especially in such a way that other branches of the national wealth should not outstrip agriculture;"
"when I examine myself and compare myself with others, especially with my brother, then I feel how bad I am." (a very important reason not to compare ourselves to anyone but ourselves)
"If I don't accept the answers given by Christianity to the questions of life, (where do I come from, why am I here, and where do I go after death) what answers do I accept?"
"Thinking about it led him into doubt, and prevented him from seeing what he should and what he should not do. whereas when he stopped thinking but lived, he constantly felt in his soul the presence of an infallible judge who decided which of two possible actions was better and which worse; adn the moment he behaved as he shouldn't have he felt it at once." ( the Holy Ghost)
"An honest man lives for his soul, he remembers God."
"How does he remember God? How does he live for his should?"
"Everyone knows that - he lives righteously, in a godly way."
"To live not for one's needs, but for God."
"To live for the belly is bad, and that you have to live for the trutth, for God,"
"This piece of knowledge cannot be explained by reason-it is beyond that."
"Consequently, goodness is outside the chain of cause and effect."
"I've discovered nothing. I've simply learned what I knew already. I've learned to know my Master."
"It was life itself that gave me the answer, through my knowledge of what is good and what is bad."
"But it was not reason that could have discovered love of one's fellows, because that is unreasonable."
"It seemed to him that from now on his relations with everyone were going to be different. Interference always infuriated him; and at once he sadly felt how mistaken he had been in imagining that a state of mind could instantly change him in his contact with reality." (change takes time)
"The unanimity, this complete expression of public opinion is a merit of the press." said Katavasov.
"But it's not just a question of sacrificing oneself, it is, but of killing Turks," said Levin diffidently. "The People sacrifice themselves and are ready to go on sacrificing themselves for the good of their souls, but not for the sake of murder," he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment