--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How good it would be to know where to…" description: "\"“How good it would be to know where to look for help in this life and what to expect after it, there, beyond the grave! How happy and calm I'd be, if I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/leo-tolstoy-55_compassion_how-good-it-would-be-to-know-where-to-lo_1427490.png" --- # How good it would be to know where to look for help in… ![“How good it would be to know where to look for help in this life and what to expect after it, there, beyond the grave! How happy and calm I'd be, if I could say now: Lord, have mercy on me! ... But to whom shall I say it? Either it is an indefinable, unfathomable power, which I not only cannot…” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/leo-tolstoy-55_compassion_how-good-it-would-be-to-know-where-to-lo_1427490.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/leo-tolstoy-55_compassion_how-good-it-would-be-to-know-where-to-lo_1427490.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/leo-tolstoy-55_compassion_how-good-it-would-be-to-know-where-to-lo_1427490.png) > ““How good it would be to know where to look for help in this life and what to expect after it, there, beyond the grave! How happy and calm I'd be, if I could say now: Lord, have mercy on me! ... But to whom shall I say it? Either it is an indefinable, unfathomable power, which I not only cannot address, but which I cannot express in words - the great all or nothing...or it is that God of whom Princess Marya has sewn in here, in this amulet? Nothing, nothing is certain, except the insignificance of everything I can comprehend and the grandeur of something incomprehensible but most important!”” [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 speaker wrestles with existential uncertainty, seeking divine guidance while confronting the limits of human understanding. **In simple terms:** Searching for meaning amid doubt and mortality. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and seek inner peace. Themes existentialism faith uncertainty Mood reflective melancholic hopeful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal crisis - spiritual seeking - grief - contemplation - prayer Key Concepts theology philosophy mortality Questions to Reflect On - What does “the great all or nothing” mean to you? - How can one find calm without definitive answers? A Different Perspective The quote assumes a monotheistic framework that may not resonate with all readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amulet Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amulet-certain-5072732/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Comprehend Grandeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comprehend-grandeur-5072733/) [God Princess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-princess-1182487/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mercy Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy-shall-484268/) [Unfathomable Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfathomable-power-5072731/) ## Related quotes > [“I turned the page, but there was no more about the princess. Instead, it went on to an account of a merchant’s wife and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eilis-o-neal/i-turned-the-page-but-there-was-no-more-about-the-princess-instead-it/) [Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/) > [If God made me a princess, why didn't he take a little more time and make my hair so it wouldn't snarl?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-n-lee/if-god-made-me-a-princess-why-didn-t-he-take-a-little-more-time-and/) [Robert N. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-n-lee/) > [We shall show mercy, but we shall not ask for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/we-shall-show-mercy-but-we-shall-not-ask-for-it/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [It is not a terrible thing to a wretched soul, when it shall lie roaring perpetually in the flames of hell, and the God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/it-is-not-a-terrible-thing-to-a-wretched-soul-when-it-shall-lie/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Invoke the Mercy of God and as milk returns not to the udder go not back to your wrongdoing." "Have compassion on yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/invoke-the-mercy-of-god-and-as-milk-returns-not-to-the-udder-go-not/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [I see not a step before me as I tread on another year;But I've left the Past in God's keeping,-the FutureHis mercy shall clear;And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gardiner-brainard/i-see-not-a-step-before-me-as-i-tread-on-another-year-but-i-ve-left/) [Mary Gardiner Brainard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gardiner-brainard/) > [Mercy is like the rainbow, which God hath set in the clouds; it never shines after it is night. If we refuse mercy here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/mercy-is-like-the-rainbow-which-god-hath-set-in-the-clouds-it-never/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [“In God's case, if He had said in the infinite sovereignty of His absolute will, "I will have no substitute, but each man shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/in-god-s-case-if-he-had-said-in-the-infinite-sovereignty-of-his/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [Bearing ourselves humbly before God ... we await undismayed the impending assault ... be the ordeal sharp or long, or both, we shall seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/bearing-ourselves-humbly-before-god-we-await-undismayed-the-impending/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“In particular, we must observe   this general rule, that we cordially desire and labor for the welfare   of the whole human race. Thus it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/in-particular-we-must-observe-this-general-rule-that-we-cordially/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“I walked out to the hill just now. It is exalting, delicious. To stand embraced by the shadows of a friendly tree with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/i-walked-out-to-the-hill-just-now-it-is-exalting-delicious-to-stand/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. (Psalms 32:10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/many-sorrows-shall-be-to-the-wicked-but-he-that-trusteth-in-the-lord/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“Dost thou verily think that the Earl of Birmingham is low enough to plead for his life?' Sir Robert returned angrily, the wrathful blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-a-willis/dost-thou-verily-think-that-the-earl-of-birmingham-is-low-enough-to/) [Alicia A. Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-a-willis/) > [Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/surely-goodness-and-mercy-shall-follow-me-all-the-days-of-my-life-and/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/surely-goodness-and-mercy-shall-follow-me-all-the-days-of-my-life-and-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How good it would be to know where to look for help in this life and what to expect after it, there, beyond the grave! 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