Old men Quote by Leo Tolstoy
““Stepan Arkadyevitch was on familiar terms with almost all his acquaintances, and called almost all of them by their Christian names: old men of sixty, boys of twenty, actors, ministers, merchants, and adjutant-generals, so that many of his intimate chums were to be found at the extreme ends of the social ladder, and would have been very much surprised to learn that they had, through the medium of Oblonsky, something in common. He was the familiar friend of everyone with whom he took a glass of champagne, and he took a glass of champagne with everyone, and when in consequence he met any of his disreputable chums, as he used in joke to call many of his friends, in the presence of his subordinates, he well knew how, with his characteristic tact, to diminish the disagreeable impression made on them. Levin was not a disreputable chum, but Oblonsky, with his ready tact, felt that Levin fancied he might not care to show his intimacy with him before his subordinates, and so he made haste to take him off into his room.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, 1877
Levin uses social connections to navigate class differences, showing how personal charm can bridge societal gaps.
In simple terms: Levin bridges class gaps with charm.
Use tact to connect across social levels.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- business networking
- political negotiations
- community building
- friendship maintenance
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you use charm without compromising authenticity?
- When does networking become manipulation?
Tact may not overcome deep-seated prejudice.