Nature Quote by Leo Tolstoy
““Answer me two more questions,’ said the King. ‘The first is, Why did the earth bear such grain then and has ceased to do so now? And the second is, Why your grandson walks with two crutches, your son with one, and you yourself with none? Your eyes are bright, your teeth sound, and your speech clear and pleasant to the ear. How have these things come about?’ And the old man answered: ‘These things are so, because men have ceased to live by their own labour, and have taken to depending on the labour of others. In the old time, men lived according to God’s law. They had what was their own, and coveted not what others had produced.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: War and Peace, 1869
The king questions why people no longer work for themselves, suggesting societal decay when labor is outsourced and personal ownership fades.
In simple terms: People stopped working for themselves, relying on others.
Key Takeaway
Encourage self-reliance and personal effort.
Themes
labor
self-reliance
societal change
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- community building
Key Concepts
economic independence
dependence
historical perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reliance on others affect personal dignity?
- What can restore balance between labor and ownership?
A Different Perspective
The view may oversimplify complex economic systems.
