--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If he had a reason for preferring…" description: "\"“If he had a reason for preferring Liberalism to the Conservatism of many in his set, it was not that he considered Liberalism more reasonable, but bec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leo-tolstoy-55_anna-karenina_if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-libera_3139288.png" --- # If he had a reason for preferring Liberalism to the… ![“If he had a reason for preferring Liberalism to the Conservatism of many in his set, it was not that he considered Liberalism more reasonable, but because it suited his manner of life better.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leo-tolstoy-55_anna-karenina_if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-libera_3139288.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leo-tolstoy-55_anna-karenina_if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-libera_3139288.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leo-tolstoy-55_anna-karenina_if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-libera_3139288.png) > ““If he had a reason for preferring Liberalism to the Conservatism of many in his set, it was not that he considered Liberalism more reasonable, but because it suited his manner of life better.”” [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. A character prefers liberalism not for its logic but because it aligns with his personal lifestyle and comfort. **In simple terms:** Preference based on personal fit, not reason. Key Takeaway Choose beliefs that suit your life. Themes politics personal values comfort choice Mood contemplative analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - political activism - social circles - personal relationships Key Concepts ideology authenticity pragmatism Questions to Reflect On - Do your choices reflect comfort or conviction? - How might you test the reasonableness of your beliefs? A Different Perspective Risk of ignoring rational critique of ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anna-karenina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anna-karenina-2/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Leo-tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leo-tolstoy-2/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Conservatism is less a set of ideas than it is a pathological distemper, a militant anger over the fact that the universe is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/conservatism-is-less-a-set-of-ideas-than-it-is-a-pathological/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [“In everything, almost in everything, I wrote I was guided by the need of collecting ideas which, linked together, would be the expression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/in-everything-almost-in-everything-i-wrote-i-was-guided-by-the-need/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Blessed are the peacemakers; theirs is the kingdom of heaven”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/blessed-are-the-peacemakers-theirs-is-the-kingdom-of-heaven/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Society in itself is no great harm, but unsatisfied social aspirations are a bad and ugly business. We must certainly accept, and we will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/society-in-itself-is-no-great-harm-but-unsatisfied-social-aspirations/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Sou amigo da divisão do trabalho. Pessoas que não fazem nada devem fazer pessoas, enquanto as demais devem contribuir para a instrução e a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/sou-amigo-da-divis-o-do-trabalho-pessoas-que-n-o-fazem-nada-devem/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Todas as mulheres são mais materialistas do que os homens. Nós fazemos do amor algo enorme, mas elas sempre se mantém ‘terre-à-terre’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/todas-as-mulheres-s-o-mais-materialistas-do-que-os-homens-n-s-fazemos/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Remember that there is only one important time and that is now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/remember-that-there-is-only-one-important-time-and-that-is-now-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Besides, Oblonsky was fond of a pleasant joke, and sometimes liked to perplex a simple-minded man by observing that if you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/besides-oblonsky-was-fond-of-a-pleasant-joke-and-sometimes-liked-to/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Just imagine the existence of a man - let us call him A - who has left youth far behind, and of a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/just-imagine-the-existence-of-a-man-let-us-call-him-a-who-has-left/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He understood that feeling of Levin's so well, knew that for Levin all the girls in the world were divided into two classes: one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-understood-that-feeling-of-levin-s-so-well-knew-that-for-levin-all/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“The acquisition by dishonest means and cunning,' said Levin, feeling that he was incapable of clearly defining the borderline between honesty and dishonesty. 'Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-acquisition-by-dishonest-means-and-cunning-said-levin-feeling/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“The aim of civilization is to enable us to get enjoyment out of everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-aim-of-civilization-is-to-enable-us-to-get-enjoyment-out-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I think love, both kinds of love, which you remember Plato defines in his "Symposium" - both kinds of love serve a touchstone for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-think-love-both-kinds-of-love-which-you-remember-plato-defines-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“But that's the whole aim of civilization: to make everything a source of enjoyment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/but-that-s-the-whole-aim-of-civilization-to-make-everything-a-source/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“All we can know is that we know nothing. And that's the height of human wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/all-we-can-know-is-that-we-know-nothing-and-that-s-the-height-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## 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! 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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 Anna-karenina quotes > [“Lord have mercy! Pardon and help us!" he repeated the words that suddenly and unexpectedly sprang to his lips. And he, an unbeliever, repeated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/lord-have-mercy-pardon-and-help-us-he-repeated-the-words-that/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Everything was made bright by her. She was the smile that shed light all around her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/everything-was-made-bright-by-her-she-was-the-smile-that-shed-light/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Anna had been preparing herself for this meeting, had thought what she would say to him, but she did not succeed in saying anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/anna-had-been-preparing-herself-for-this-meeting-had-thought-what-she/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“But that's the whole aim of civilization: to make everything a source of enjoyment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/but-that-s-the-whole-aim-of-civilization-to-make-everything-a-source/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I think love, both kinds of love, which you remember Plato defines in his "Symposium" - both kinds of love serve a touchstone for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-think-love-both-kinds-of-love-which-you-remember-plato-defines-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“With 6 children Darya Alexandrovna could not be calm. One got sick, another might get sick, a third lacked something, a fourth showed signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/with-6-children-darya-alexandrovna-could-not-be-calm-one-got-sick/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“The aim of civilization is to enable us to get enjoyment out of everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-aim-of-civilization-is-to-enable-us-to-get-enjoyment-out-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Se você tiver qualquer pensamento para mim que você vai me dar de volta a minha paz!'' ''Não pode haver paz para nós, só…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liev-tolst-i/se-voc-tiver-qualquer-pensamento-para-mim-que-voc-vai-me-dar-de-volta/) Liev Tolstói > [“The acquisition by dishonest means and cunning,' said Levin, feeling that he was incapable of clearly defining the borderline between honesty and dishonesty. 'Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-acquisition-by-dishonest-means-and-cunning-said-levin-feeling/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I didn’t know you were going. What are you coming for?" she said, letting fall the hand with which she had grasped the doorpost.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-didn-t-know-you-were-going-what-are-you-coming-for-she-said-letting/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Levin tried to drink a little coffee, and put a piece of roll into his mouth, but his mouth could do nothing with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/levin-tried-to-drink-a-little-coffee-and-put-a-piece-of-roll-into-his/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He understood that feeling of Levin's so well, knew that for Levin all the girls in the world were divided into two classes: one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-understood-that-feeling-of-levin-s-so-well-knew-that-for-levin-all/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Besides, Oblonsky was fond of a pleasant joke, and sometimes liked to perplex a simple-minded man by observing that if you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/besides-oblonsky-was-fond-of-a-pleasant-joke-and-sometimes-liked-to/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I see that my presence is burdensome to you. 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Nós fazemos do amor algo enorme, mas elas sempre se mantém ‘terre-à-terre’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/todas-as-mulheres-s-o-mais-materialistas-do-que-os-homens-n-s-fazemos/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Browse all 36 Anna-karenina quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anna-karenina-2/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If he had a reason for preferring Liberalism to the Conservatism of many in his set, it was not that he considered Liberalism more reasonable, but because it suited his manner of life better.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-liberalism-to-the-conservatism-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anna-karenina" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-liberalism-to-the-conservatism-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leo-tolstoy-55_anna-karenina_if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-libera_3139288.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leo-tolstoy-55_anna-karenina_if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-libera_3139288.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/leo-tolstoy-55_anna-karenina_if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-libera_3139288.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If he had a reason for preferring Liberalism to the Conservatism of many in his set, it was not that he…” — 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": "“If he had a reason for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-liberalism-to-the-conservatism-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-he-had-a-reason-for-preferring-liberalism-to-the-conservatism-of/#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 } } ] } ```