--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [D]iscipline consists in this, that the…" description: "\"[D]iscipline consists in this, that the men who undergo the instruction and have followed it for a certain time are completely deprived of everything w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/leo-tolstoy-55_anti-war_d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-me_2140397.jpg" --- # \[D\]iscipline consists in this, that the men who undergo… ![“[D]iscipline consists in this, that the men who undergo the instruction and have followed it for a certain time are completely deprived of everything which is precious to a man-of the chief human property, rational freedom-and become submissive, machine-like implements of murder in the hands of…” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/leo-tolstoy-55_anti-war_d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-me_2140397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/leo-tolstoy-55_anti-war_d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-me_2140397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/leo-tolstoy-55_anti-war_d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-me_2140397.jpg) > “\[D\]iscipline consists in this, that the men who undergo the instruction and have followed it for a certain time are completely deprived of everything which is precious to a man-of the chief human property, rational freedom-and become submissive, machine-like implements of murder in the hands of their organized hierarchic authorities.” [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. Discipline can strip individuals of rational freedom, turning them into obedient tools for violent authority. **In simple terms:** Discipline can rob people of free thought, making them obedient killers. Key Takeaway Guard personal autonomy against blind obedience. Themes authority obedience violence humanity Mood serious reflective critical Type philosophical political ethical When to use this quote - military training - corporate culture - political indoctrination - law enforcement - propaganda Key Concepts totalitarianism psychology free will Questions to Reflect On - How does discipline affect moral responsibility? - When does obedience become complicity? A Different Perspective Even disciplined societies may retain critical thinking and moral agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-war/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Deprived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprived/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Freedom Submissive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-submissive-4454311/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Hierarchic Authorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchic-authorities-4454309/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Instruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruction/) [Iscipline Consists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iscipline-consists-4454308/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Organized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-freedom-4454310/) [Submissive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submissive/) [Submissive Machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submissive-machine-4454312/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I played the submissive wife in 'Shakti' because I needed the money. But I'm glad I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepti-naval/i-played-the-submissive-wife-in-shakti-because-i-needed-the-money-but/) [Deepti Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepti-naval/) > [“But I wasn't done," she pouted, no longer hungry for anything but him. "Yes, you were." "Yes, sir." "Lay down on your back." "Very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/but-i-wasn-t-done-she-pouted-no-longer-hungry-for-anything-but-him/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) > [The whole educational and professional training system is a very elaborate filter, which just weeds out people who are too independent, and who think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-whole-educational-and-professional-training-system-is-a-very/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“The threatening tone, harsh aggression, made her submissive (Across Time And Space)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mala-naidoo/the-threatening-tone-harsh-aggression-made-her-submissive-across-time/) [Mala Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mala-naidoo/) > [A college should feel alarmed rather than pleased if it graduates nothing but good citizens. For when the body politic is composed of nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-boas/a-college-should-feel-alarmed-rather-than-pleased-if-it-graduates/) [George Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-boas/) > [“Some people - and a high percentage of submissives - wanted clear-cut rules. Preferred their duties laid out, like schedules and lists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherise-sinclair/some-people-and-a-high-percentage-of-submissives-wanted-clear-cut/) [Cherise Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherise-sinclair/) > [The man of power is ruined by power, the man of money by money, the submissive man by subservience, the pleasure seeker by pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/the-man-of-power-is-ruined-by-power-the-man-of-money-by-money-the/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“I'm talking about an intense, private bonding between a dominant personality and a submissive one. Between two people who have chosen to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indigo-wren/i-m-talking-about-an-intense-private-bonding-between-a-dominant/) [Indigo Wren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indigo-wren/) > [“You can call me Jonah," I said. "If you were my submissive, you would call me Master. If you were a submissive, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-luke/you-can-call-me-jonah-i-said-if-you-were-my-submissive-you-would-call/) [Jason Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-luke/) > [“It’s not the room that commands obedience. It’s not the props, or the décor. It’s not the fear of any piece of equipment that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-luke/it-s-not-the-room-that-commands-obedience-it-s-not-the-props-or-the-d/) [Jason Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-luke/) > [“I went into the experience with the notion that I was merely going to get a taste of a deviant lifestyle. The Dom was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-varva/i-went-into-the-experience-with-the-notion-that-i-was-merely-going-to/) [Debra Varva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-varva/) > [A “collective” mind does not exist. It is merely the sum of endless numbers of individual minds. If we have an endless number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-collective-mind-does-not-exist-it-is-merely-the-sum-of-endless/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I think some of the best sex writing is going to come from the unexpected sources, not the same old same old. Like I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kramer-bussel/i-think-some-of-the-best-sex-writing-is-going-to-come-from-the/) [Rachel Kramer Bussel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kramer-bussel/) > [In slave times the Negro was kept subservient and submissive by the frequency and severity of the scourging, but, with freedom, a new system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/in-slave-times-the-negro-was-kept-subservient-and-submissive-by-the/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) ## 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 Anti war quotes > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I was involved in the anti-war movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-was-involved-in-the-anti-war-movement/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [One reason the United States finds itself at the edge of a foreign policy disaster is its underinformed citizenry, a key weakness in democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-halper/one-reason-the-united-states-finds-itself-at-the-edge-of-a-foreign/) [Stefan Halper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-halper/) > [A good soldier is a blind, heartless, soulless, murderous machine. He is not a man. His is not a brute, for brutes kill only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/a-good-soldier-is-a-blind-heartless-soulless-murderous-machine-he-is/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-moral-and-constitutional-obligations-of-our-representatives-in/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The way I'm going now is to focus on peace, to create peace. As Sister Corita said, "I don't go to anti-war rallies. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-hong-kingston/the-way-i-m-going-now-is-to-focus-on-peace-to-create-peace-as-sister/) [Maxine Hong Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-hong-kingston/) > [Here's the thing. Just because you're pro-troops doesn't mean you're pro-war. And just because you're anti-war doesn't mean you're anti-troops. Just because you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/here-s-the-thing-just-because-you-re-pro-troops-doesn-t-mean-you-re/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-worst-evils-which-mankind-has-ever-had-to-endure-were-inflicted/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/repetition-does-not-transform-a-lie-into-a-truth/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-cannot-be-on-one-hand-dedicated-to-peace-and-on-the-other/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/free-nations-don-t-develop-weapons-of-mass-destruction/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [...Uncalled-for aggression arouses the hatred of the civilian population...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/uncalled-for-aggression-arouses-the-hatred-of-the-civilian-population/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Once conscription was introduced during the First World War, and once Britain's wars ceased being confined to the empire or to continental Europe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/once-conscription-was-introduced-during-the-first-world-war-and-once/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) [Browse all 486 Anti war quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-war/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[D]iscipline consists in this, that the men who undergo the instruction and have followed it for a certain time are completely deprived of everything which is precious to a man-of the chief human property, rational freedom-and become submissive, machine-like implements of murder in the hands of their organized hierarchic authorities.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-men-who-undergo-the-instruction/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anti war" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-men-who-undergo-the-instruction/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/leo-tolstoy-55_anti-war_d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-me_2140397.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/leo-tolstoy-55_anti-war_d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-me_2140397.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/leo-tolstoy-55_anti-war_d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-me_2140397.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[D]iscipline consists in this, that the men who undergo the instruction and have followed it for a certain…” — 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": "[D]iscipline consists in this, that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-men-who-undergo-the-instruction/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/d-iscipline-consists-in-this-that-the-men-who-undergo-the-instruction/#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 } } ] } ```