---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The enemy stopped shooting, and that…"
description: "\"“The enemy stopped shooting, and that strict, menacing, inaccessible, and elusive line that separates two enemy armies became all the more clearly felt..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/leo-tolstoy-55_death_the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-stri_1864021.png"
---

#  The enemy stopped shooting, and that strict, menacing…

![“The enemy stopped shooting, and that strict, menacing, inaccessible, and elusive line that separates two enemy armies became all the more clearly felt. “One step beyond that line, reminiscent of the line separating the living from the dead, and it’s the unknown, suffering, and death. And what is…” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/leo-tolstoy-55_death_the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-stri_1864021.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/leo-tolstoy-55_death_the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-stri_1864021.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/leo-tolstoy-55_death_the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-stri_1864021.png)

> ““The enemy stopped shooting, and that strict, menacing, inaccessible, and elusive line that separates two enemy armies became all the more clearly felt. “One step beyond that line, reminiscent of the line separating the living from the dead, and it’s the unknown, suffering, and death. And what is there? who is there? there, beyond this field, and the tree, and the roof lit by the sun? No one knows, and you would like to know; and you’re afraid to cross that line, and would like to cross it; and you know that sooner or later you will have to cross it and find out what is there on the other side of the line, as you will inevitably find out what is there on the other side of death. And you’re strong, healthy, cheerful, and excited, and surrounded by people just as strong and excitedly animated.” So, if he does not think it, every man feels who finds himself within sight of an enemy, and this feeling gives a particular brilliance and joyful sharpness of impression to everything that happens in those moments.””

[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.

Facing an enemy line reveals the profound fear of the unknown, mirroring death, yet also sparks heightened awareness and exhilaration.

**In simple terms:** The enemy line symbolizes fear of the unknown and sharpens perception.

Key Takeaway

Embrace fear to gain insight.

Themes

fear awareness exhilaration death combat

Mood

tense hopeful reflective

Type

philosophical literary inspirational

When to use this quote

- battlefield
- personal crisis
- life decisions
- mortality contemplation

Key Concepts

existential dread psychological tension human resilience

Questions to Reflect On

- What unknown does your personal “enemy line” hide?
- How does confronting fear change your perception?

A Different Perspective

The line may also represent societal barriers that cannot be crossed without loss.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Sooner or later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) [War and peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-and-peace/)

## Related quotes

> [“He was in a fairy kingdom where everything was possible. He looked up at the sky. And the sky was a fairy realm like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-in-a-fairy-kingdom-where-everything-was-possible-he-looked-up/)

[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/)

> [“Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/freethinkers-are-those-who-are-willing-to-use-their-minds-without/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [“He got up, wishing to go around, but the aunt handed him the snuffbox right over Helene, behind her back. Helene moved forward so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-got-up-wishing-to-go-around-but-the-aunt-handed-him-the-snuffbox/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [“There are two sides to the life of every man, his individual life, which is the more free the more abstract its interests, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/there-are-two-sides-to-the-life-of-every-man-his-individual-life-2/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [“It would be good," thought Prince Andrei, glancing at the little image that his sister had hung around his neck with such reverence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/it-would-be-good-thought-prince-andrei-glancing-at-the-little-image/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [“Norah, understand that I won't be able to go back from this. Once we cross this line, there will never be anyone else for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-richardson/norah-understand-that-i-won-t-be-able-to-go-back-from-this-once-we/)

[Angela Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-richardson/)

> [There are a lot of things you do in a supernatural universe that can toe the line and cross the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/there-are-a-lot-of-things-you-do-in-a-supernatural-universe-that-can/)

[Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/)

> [I don't ever cross the line. I step right up to it. I put my toes on the line, but I don't ever cross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-covington/i-don-t-ever-cross-the-line-i-step-right-up-to-it-i-put-my-toes-on/)

[Colby Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-covington/)

> [Sometimes we have to cross the lines to appreciate what we have or to learn how to do the right things. It doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarek-soloman/sometimes-we-have-to-cross-the-lines-to-appreciate-what-we-have-or-to/)

[Tarek Soloman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarek-soloman/)

> [When you cross the line, it is such a wonderful feeling it's hard to describe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-holmes/when-you-cross-the-line-it-is-such-a-wonderful-feeling-it-s-hard-to/)

[Kelly Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-holmes/)

> [You can cross the line but you can also be forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/you-can-cross-the-line-but-you-can-also-be-forgiven/)

[Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/)

> [I don't think you cross the line - I think you move the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/i-don-t-think-you-cross-the-line-i-think-you-move-the-line/)

[Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/)

> [Cross the line if you feel that your best friend is forgetting you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cross-the-line-if-you-feel-that-your-best-friend-is-forgetting-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I knew we'd cross the line, so I quietly erased it while you weren't looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-wolchin/i-knew-we-d-cross-the-line-so-i-quietly-erased-it-while-you-weren-t/)

[Rachel Wolchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-wolchin/)

## 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 Death quotes

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/)

[Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/)

> [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/)

J. Anthony Torino

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/)

Alan W. Powers

> [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/)

[Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/)

[Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The enemy stopped shooting, and that strict, menacing, inaccessible, and elusive line that separates two enemy armies became all the more clearly felt. “One step beyond that line, reminiscent of the line separating the living from the dead, and it’s the unknown, suffering, and death. And what is there? who is there? there, beyond this field, and the tree, and the roof lit by the sun? No one knows, and you would like to know; and you’re afraid to cross that line, and would like to cross it; and you know that sooner or later you will have to cross it and find out what is there on the other side of the line, as you will inevitably find out what is there on the other side of death. And you’re strong, healthy, cheerful, and excited, and surrounded by people just as strong and excitedly animated.” So, if he does not think it, every man feels who finds himself within sight of an enemy, and this feeling gives a particular brilliance and joyful sharpness of impression to everything that happens in those moments.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Leo Tolstoy"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-strict-menacing-inaccessible-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-strict-menacing-inaccessible-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/leo-tolstoy-55_death_the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-stri_1864021.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/leo-tolstoy-55_death_the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-stri_1864021.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/leo-tolstoy-55_death_the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-stri_1864021.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The enemy stopped shooting, and that strict, menacing, inaccessible, and elusive line that separates two…” — 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": "“The enemy stopped shooting, and that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-strict-menacing-inaccessible-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-enemy-stopped-shooting-and-that-strict-menacing-inaccessible-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
