Books Quote by Leo Tolstoy
““I remember the astonishment I felt when I first read Shakespeare. I expected to receive a powerful esthetic pleasure, but having read, one after the other, works regarded as his best: "King Lear," "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet" and "Macbeth," not only did I feel no delight, but I felt an irresistible repulsion and tedium . . . . Shakespeare can not be recognized either as a great genius, or even as an average author. . . . far from being the height of perfection, [King Lear] is a very bad, carelessly composed production, . . . can not evoke among us anything but aversion and weariness. . . . All his characters speak, not their own, but always one and the same Shakespearian, pretentious, and unnatural language . . . .””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Thoughts on Shakespeare, 1869
Tolstoy argues that Shakespeare’s works lack genuine emotional depth and appear artificially grand, leading to boredom rather than admiration.
In simple terms: Shakespeare feels forced and boring to him.
Key Takeaway
Question the authenticity of revered art.
Themes
literature criticism
disillusionment
artistic authenticity
Mood
skeptical
contemplative
Type
critical
analytical
When to use this quote
- reading classic literature
- teaching Shakespeare
- personal taste assessment
- art criticism
- cultural education
Key Concepts
Aesthetic theory
authorial intent
cultural canon
Questions to Reflect On
- Do personal biases shape our judgment of classic works?
- Can a masterpiece be universally appreciated?
A Different Perspective
Tolstoy’s view is highly subjective and not widely shared among scholars.
