The greater the state, the more wrong and cruel its patriotism, and the greater is the sum of suffering upon which its power is founded. – Leo Tolstoy
If there existed no external means for dimming their consciences, one-half of the men would at once shoot themselves, because to live contrary to ones reason is a most intolerable state, and all men of our time are in such a state. – Leo Tolstoy
My piece of bread only belongs to me when I know that everyone else has a share, and that no one starves while I eat. – Leo Tolstoy
One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken. – Leo Tolstoy
Just about every childrens book in my local bookstore has an animal for its hero. But then, only a few feet away in the cookbook section, just about every cookbook includes recipes for cooking animals. Is there a more illuminating illustration of our paradoxical relationship with the nonhuman world? – Jonathan Safran Foer