--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Has it ever befallen you, my readers, to…" description: "\"“Has it ever befallen you, my readers, to become suddenly aware that your conception of things has altered — as though every object in life had unexpec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/leo-tolstoy-55_books_has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-b_29992.png" --- # Has it ever befallen you, my readers, to become suddenly… ![“Has it ever befallen you, my readers, to become suddenly aware that your conception of things has altered — as though every object in life had unexpectedly turned a side towards you of which you had hitherto remained unaware? Such a species of moral change occurred, as regards myself, during this…” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/leo-tolstoy-55_books_has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-b_29992.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/leo-tolstoy-55_books_has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-b_29992.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/leo-tolstoy-55_books_has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-b_29992.png) > ““Has it ever befallen you, my readers, to become suddenly aware that your conception of things has altered — as though every object in life had unexpectedly turned a side towards you of which you had hitherto remained unaware? Such a species of moral change occurred, as regards myself, during this journey, and therefore from it I date the beginning of my boyhood. For the first time in my life, I then envisaged the idea that we — i.e. our family — were not the only persons in the world; that not every conceivable interest was centred in ourselves; and that there existed numbers of people who had nothing in common with us, cared nothing for us, and even knew nothing of our existence. No doubt I had known all this before — only I had not known it then as I knew it now; I had never properly felt or understood it.”” [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. The passage describes an awakening to the existence of others beyond oneself, marking a shift from egocentric perception to a broader moral awareness. **In simple terms:** Realization of others' existence Key Takeaway Moral growth begins with recognizing others Themes self-awareness moral development empathy human connection personal growth Mood reflective thoughtful humble Type philosophical personal reflective When to use this quote - reading a novel - traveling abroad - meeting diverse people - experiencing cultural exchange - reflecting on personal history Key Concepts egocentrism otherness ethical awakening social consciousness Practical Applications - teaching empathy in education - designing inclusive community programs Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing others' perspectives change one's actions? - What experiences can trigger this moral awakening? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Boyhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boyhood/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“Riley sensed the shift before it actually happened: Mack turning his smile, his focus on Maisy. She felt the desperate desire to rewind time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-callahan-henry/riley-sensed-the-shift-before-it-actually-happened-mack-turning-his/) [Patti Callahan Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-callahan-henry/) > [“He was swept by a lovely, heart-warming sensation that was quite new to him; the sight of those two little girls had suddenly made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-swept-by-a-lovely-heart-warming-sensation-that-was-quite-new/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Not more certain is it that it is something outside the thermometer that produces a change in the thermometer, than it is something outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-drummond/not-more-certain-is-it-that-it-is-something-outside-the-thermometer/) [Henry Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-drummond/) > [The problem of moral change would appear to be one of presenting stimuli which are both sufficiently incongruous as to stimulate conflict in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kohlberg/the-problem-of-moral-change-would-appear-to-be-one-of-presenting/) [Lawrence Kohlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kohlberg/) > [“conversion means a religious and moral change in man, by which he gives up his sinful ways and learns to know, love, and serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/conversion-means-a-religious-and-moral-change-in-man-by-which-he/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [The sanguine assurance that men and nations can be legislated into goodness, that pressure from without is equivalent to a moral change within, needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-sanguine-assurance-that-men-and-nations-can-be-legislated-into/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [“How could anyone catch all of the beauty in the Present Moment, when, after years of misery, there was suddenly a day when all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cintra-wilson/how-could-anyone-catch-all-of-the-beauty-in-the-present-moment-when/) [Cintra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cintra-wilson/) > [Sometimes, someone comes into your life, so unexpectedly, takes your heart by surprise, and changes your life forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/sometimes-someone-comes-into-your-life-so-unexpectedly-takes-your/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Into all our lives, in many simple, familiar, homely ways, God infuses this element of joy from the surprises of life, which unexpectedly brighten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-longfellow/into-all-our-lives-in-many-simple-familiar-homely-ways-god-infuses/) Samuel Longfellow > [You came into my life unexpectedly. I do not know, I fell over you. Previously, I suppose we are friend, just suppose I do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/you-came-into-my-life-unexpectedly-i-do-not-know-i-fell-over-you/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [Sometimes people come into your life unexpectedly and it's like the sun just shines brighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-people-come-into-your-life-unexpectedly-and-it-s-like-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Dreams hit the fan? Life unexpectedly take a turn for the worst? Here’s what you do: First thing I think is to realize God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/dreams-hit-the-fan-life-unexpectedly-take-a-turn-for-the-worst-here-s/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [“As love is the battlefield, life is unexpectedly filled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/as-love-is-the-battlefield-life-is-unexpectedly-filled/) [Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/) > [Collaborating on 'Tusa' with Nicki Minaj came into my life unexpectedly and I wanted to keep it like that for my fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-g/collaborating-on-tusa-with-nicki-minaj-came-into-my-life-unexpectedly/) [Karol G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karol-g/) > [For the first time in a long time I thought about Maman. I felt as if I understood why at the end of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/for-the-first-time-in-a-long-time-i-thought-about-maman-i-felt-as-if/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## 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 Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Has it ever befallen you, my readers, to become suddenly aware that your conception of things has altered — as though every object in life had unexpectedly turned a side towards you of which you had hitherto remained unaware? Such a species of moral change occurred, as regards myself, during this journey, and therefore from it I date the beginning of my boyhood. For the first time in my life, I then envisaged the idea that we — i.e. our family — were not the only persons in the world; that not every conceivable interest was centred in ourselves; and that there existed numbers of people who had nothing in common with us, cared nothing for us, and even knew nothing of our existence. No doubt I had known all this before — only I had not known it then as I knew it now; I had never properly felt or understood it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-become-suddenly-aware-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-become-suddenly-aware-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/leo-tolstoy-55_books_has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-b_29992.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/leo-tolstoy-55_books_has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-b_29992.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/leo-tolstoy-55_books_has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-b_29992.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Has it ever befallen you, my readers, to become suddenly aware that your conception of things has altered…” — 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": "“Has it ever befallen you, my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-become-suddenly-aware-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/has-it-ever-befallen-you-my-readers-to-become-suddenly-aware-that/#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 } } ] } ```