Anna-karenina Quote by Leo Tolstoy
““Lord have mercy! Pardon and help us!" he repeated the words that suddenly and unexpectedly sprang to his lips. And he, an unbeliever, repeated those words not with his lips only. At that instant he knew that neither his doubts nor the impossibility of believing with his reason- of which he was conscious- all prevented his appealing to God. It all flew off like dust. To whom should he appeal, if not to Him in whose hands he felt himself, his soul, and his love, to be?””
About This Quote
A crisis of faith forces a skeptic to abandon rational doubts and turn to divine mercy, revealing an instinctive yearning for spiritual refuge.
In simple terms: Desperation leads to unexpected prayer.
Key Takeaway
Even skeptics can feel an innate pull toward God.
Themes
faith
doubt
spiritual yearning
human vulnerability
divine mercy
Mood
awe
desperation
hope
Type
philosophical
narrative
spiritual
When to use this quote
- a moment of existential crisis
- a sudden emotional breakdown
- a turning point in a believer's journey
Key Concepts
crisis of faith
inner conflict
appeal to the divine
Practical Applications
- spiritual counseling
- literary analysis of religious themes
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this reveal about the relationship between reason and belief?
- How might doubt coexist with a longing for divine aid?
