--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... a man has to think of his soul before…" description: "\"... a man has to think of his soul before everything else.\" — Leo Tolstoy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-ev_2551043.png" --- # ... a man has to think of his soul before everything else. ![“... a man has to think of his soul before everything else.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-ev_2551043.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-ev_2551043.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-ev_2551043.png) > “... a man has to think of his soul before everything else.” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must prioritize the soul above all else. **In simple terms:** Soul comes before everything. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner life. Themes spirituality self‑reflection priorities Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - decision making - life planning Key Concepts Soul care inner growth ethical living Questions to Reflect On - What does your soul need? - How do you keep your inner self prioritized? A Different Perspective Societal pressures may distract from inner work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Man Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-think/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-soul-287913/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Can it be that there is not enough space for man in this beautiful world, under those immeasurable, starry heavens? Is it possible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/can-it-be-that-there-is-not-enough-space-for-man-in-this-beautiful-2/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Yet that grief and this joy were alike outside all the ordinary conditions of life; they were loop-holes, as it were, in that ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/yet-that-grief-and-this-joy-were-alike-outside-all-the-ordinary/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The one thing in the world of value is the active soul. And I think that soul doesn't necessarily die after we're dead and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-eldon/the-one-thing-in-the-world-of-value-is-the-active-soul-and-i-think/) [Kathy Eldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-eldon/) > [“That’s the kinda stuff that you’ve gotta figure out on your own, I think. Soul searching’s one of those things you do alone.” Mitch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-johnson/that-s-the-kinda-stuff-that-you-ve-gotta-figure-out-on-your-own-i/) [Hannah Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-johnson/) > [A soul you say? Give my pocketwatch to a savage and he'll think it has a soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-soul-you-say-give-my-pocketwatch-to-a-savage-and-he-ll-think-it-has/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“Smartass Disciple: Master, where will you go after your soul leaves your body? Master of Stupidity: What makes you think a soul will go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/smartass-disciple-master-where-will-you-go-after-your-soul-leaves/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [If you find someone that you think is your soul-mate, someone you could potentially spend the rest of your life with, why ruin it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvira-kurt/if-you-find-someone-that-you-think-is-your-soul-mate-someone-you/) [Elvira Kurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvira-kurt/) > [I think soul is soul. I don't see new soul as any different to old soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-faith/i-think-soul-is-soul-i-don-t-see-new-soul-as-any-different-to-old-soul/) [Paloma Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-faith/) > [“I think that your soul needs to learn that it is always loved, no matter whether your mother is there to see it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-o-malley/i-think-that-your-soul-needs-to-learn-that-it-is-always-loved-no/) [Tricia O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-o-malley/) > [One can hardly think too little of one's self. One can hardly think too much of one's soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/one-can-hardly-think-too-little-of-one-s-self-one-can-hardly-think/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I don't think I am a soul singer and definitely don't think that I am a country artist by any stretch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-east/i-don-t-think-i-am-a-soul-singer-and-definitely-don-t-think-that-i-am/) [Anderson East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-east/) > [I don't think anyone, until their soul leaves their body, is past the point of no return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-don-t-think-anyone-until-their-soul-leaves-their-body-is-past-the/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Man, do you think yours is the only soul? Look around you. Everything that you see quivers with being. Though your thoughts are free,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-rard-de-nerval/man-do-you-think-yours-is-the-only-soul-look-around-you-everything/) [Gerard De Nerval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-rard-de-nerval/) > [I think that whenever soul is present, it's because what you're doing, whom you're with, where you are, evokes love without your thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-shinoda-bolen/i-think-that-whenever-soul-is-present-it-s-because-what-you-re-doing/) [Jean Shinoda Bolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-shinoda-bolen/) > [In the end, I don't think you can find soul. Soul finds you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-cocker/in-the-end-i-don-t-think-you-can-find-soul-soul-finds-you/) [Joe Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-cocker/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "... a man has to think of his soul before everything else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-everything-else/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-everything-else/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-ev_2551043.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-ev_2551043.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-ev_2551043.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“... a man has to think of his soul before everything else.” — Leo Tolstoy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leo Tolstoy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "... a man has to think...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-everything-else/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/a-man-has-to-think-of-his-soul-before-everything-else/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```