Different approach Quote by Leo Tolstoy
““Yet time and again, from different approaches, I kept coming to the same conclusion, that I could not have come into the world without any cause, reason, or meaning; that I could not be the fledgeling fallen from the nest that I felt myself to be. If I lie on my back crying in the tall grass, like a fledgeling, it is because I know that my mother brought me into the world, kept me warm, fed me and loved me. But where is she, that mother? If I am abandoned, then who has abandoned me? I cannot hide myself from the fact that someone who loved me gave birth to me. Who is this someone? Again, God.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy, 1886
The narrator reflects on existential dependence on a higher purpose, feeling abandoned yet recognizing a divine source of meaning.
In simple terms: Human existence feels abandoned without a higher purpose; God may fill that void.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning beyond self‑reliance.
Themes
existentialism
spirituality
search for meaning
Mood
thoughtful
somber
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- Therapy
- grief counseling
- philosophical study
- personal journaling
Key Concepts
Divine purpose
human isolation
self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What gives you purpose when you feel abandoned?
- Can meaning exist without belief in God?
A Different Perspective
The argument assumes a singular deity, which may not resonate with all.
![“Q. [69] If, as St John says, he who is born of God does not sin, because his seed dwells in God, and he cannot sin (1 Jn 3:9), and yet he who is born of water and Spirit is himself born of God (cf Jn 3:5–6), then how are we who are born of God through baptism still able to sin? R. The manner of…” quote by John Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec2/john-behr-64123_baptism_q-69-if-as-st-john-says-he-who-is-born-o_2845101.jpg)
