“I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love. I felt myself in a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our quiet life.”
–Leo Tolstoy, in “Family Happiness”
I saw this quote for the first time in Jon Krakauer’s book, Into the Wild. It’s true–why live a simple, quiet life when there is so much more to life than stagnation? Its the extremes, seen via dangers and excitements, which give our lives true satisfaction. The status quo, normal, conventional life is exactly what Tolstoy describes as “the calm course of existence.” Why stay calm, when you can experience the un-calm? The fluctuations, the extremes, and the inherent mystery in the loud, active life, is invaluable. Why would you live at medium, when you could be experiencing high highs and low lows? It is the extremes which truly impact us. It is the movements in our moods, personalities, friends, and surroundings, which give us more meaning and more of an intriguing identity. Travel. Move. Always Change. Don’t stay in one place, and never be quiet, in words nor actions. Always Progress, and never waste anytime.
Tags: Change, Into Thin Air, Krakauer, Tolstoy
February 3, 2008 at 3:28 am
Other good Tolstoy quotes:
“In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.”
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
Perhaps more controversial, but the only one I actually knew was this quote. And let me tell you, I love this quote and completely agree with it.
“If one has no vanity in this life of ours, there is no sufficient reason for living.”
February 3, 2008 at 3:32 am
I figga deal that.
I always wondered how people could go through life without a least a little self-confidence? What Tolstoy is saying is enjoy life, and further, enjoy yourself, which is similar to vanity.
Obviously we all want to change the world, but the one corner of the world that we really have control over is ourselves. When you think about it, we are part of the world, and therefore a positive change in us is at least what we can do.