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War and Peace: 7 Life Lessons Gain from Leo Tolstoy

Gain valuable life insights from Tolstoy's epic masterpiece "War and Peace". Discover how the characters experiences can guide you in your own journey

Romain Rolland said: "War and Peace" is the most magnificent epic of our time, a modern "Iliad", bringing together countless characters and emotions. On this vast sea of human beings, soars an overriding soul, calmly raising and calming storms.

Galsworthy said: If there is a novel that fits the definition of "the greatest novel in the world", I will choose "War and Peace".

Both of them are winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature, and their evaluation of "War and Peace" undoubtedly comes from the most genuine admiration in their hearts.

7 Powerful Lessons Gain from War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

When I was a teenager, I didn't like Leo Tolstoy's works very much. I thought they were too wordy and difficult, and looked too tiring. 

So he didn't finish reading "War and Peace" until the fall of 2015 for the first time. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed reading it and learned 7 Powerful Lessons Gain from War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy is a very great writer, and the depth and breadth of "War and Peace" are difficult for other writers to surpass.

my-life-insights-from-war-and-peace

One of my insights: The Difficulty of Life: Lessons from Historical Figures

Everyone is not easy. Even the French Emperor Napoleon and the Russian Tsar Alexander, who were kings, both had their own difficulties and helplessness, which made people truly sigh: the emperor is the slave of history. 

If the emperor is like this, what about us ordinary people, let alone expect to do whatever we want. 

Knowing that it is not easy for everyone to live in the world, you can be open-minded and have more understanding and tolerance for each other.

The second insight: Life's Mission and Responsibilities

Everyone has their own mission in life. Kutusov in "War and Peace" was born for the famous Russo-French war. Once the war was over, his mission and life would end; Born to educate Pierre; Natasha's appearance aroused Andre's beautiful yearning for life and love, 

but her betrayal and repentance for love made Andre, after experiencing the ups and downs of the heart, Real peace is finally achieved; Maria's mission in life is to use her fortune to save the Rostov family from the debt crisis...

Reminiscent of many famous people in history: Wang Bo died of drowning shortly after writing "Preface to the Pavilion of King Teng"; Cai E died of illness shortly after Yuan Shikai's downfall; Nie Er also died young shortly after completing "March of the Volunteers"... so Examples abound.

As we among mortal beings, our life and death may have nothing to do with historical events, but we must not underestimate ourselves. There are major trends of the times hidden in our daily trivialities, and our lives must be integrated into the times we live in. God willing.

When we are alive, we must have our responsibilities and missions, no matter how ordinary or small, they must not be ignored.

The third insight: The Role of Property in Marriage

Property is a necessary condition for marriage. The eldest daughter of the Rostov family, Natasha’s sister Vera, got Berg’s marriage proposal because of her generous dowry, and shortly after the proposal, Berg confirmed the amount of dowry to her father-in-law and hid the knife with a smile Natasha's brother's Nicholas and cousin Sonia are childhood sweethearts, 

but because of Sonia's poverty and the decline of the Rostov family, The two couldn't get married. In the end, Nicholas married Maria, who had a strong family... There are many examples of this in "War and Peace".

The fourth insight: Human Nature in Life and Death Situations

Sometimes the despicableness of human nature can only be manifested in a specific environment where life and death are at stake. Pierre in the book is a positive image of the aristocratic elite portrayed by the author. 

He is kind and straightforward and has been experiencing weak and chaotic inner struggles without breaking through until he met Platon when he was captured. 

That simple farmer gave him a lot of friendship and insights. Because of him, Pierre cleared up his inner struggle and weakness, thoroughly realized the meaning of life, and formed his later belief in life. 

However, when the French army was about to execute Platon, "he looked at Pierre with his kind round eyes, which were now filled with tears, and seemed to want him to come closer, to say something to him.".But Pierre was very worried for himself. He pretended not to meet his eyes, and hurried away."

This passage makes people feel the truth and cruelty of human nature. We cannot demand that Pierre must risk his life to say goodbye to Platon for the last time. 

If we are in it, we may not be better than him. During the Cultural Revolution, how many students beat their mentors, their children reported their parents and their friends betrayed their friends... Some out of ignorance, some out of self-protection, some out of seeking credit... But no matter what the purpose is, it is chilling. 

However, even in such a specific environment, some people still maintain the elegance of their souls, making us feel the nobility of humanity.

I hope that the era we live in is not an era that truly tests the elegance of our souls.

The fifth insight: The truth of history is always shrouded in fog

The truth of history is always shrouded in fog. And as time goes by, the fog will only get heavier. Toon's "War and Peace" is a great literary work. It depicts a vast picture of war and creates many lifelike characters, but it is not real after all and is even far away from the real.

The Russo-French War is only two hundred years away, and this war has left a lot of historical materials for reference. And how many discrepancies do the historical records and the truth have? What will happen when people talk about the Russo-French War a thousand years later?

The truth and complexity of history are far more vivid and vivid than what we imagined and studied, but we will never be able to see her true face clearly.

The sixth insight: Understanding the Essence of Life through Suffering

Innate wealth and status sometimes prevent people from clearly understanding the essence of life and happiness. Only after suffering all kinds of honing can we fully understand God's will and understand the meaning of life.

Andrei, the protagonist in "War and Peace", entrusts Tolstoy's hope to the nobility. He has a handsome appearance, a wise mind, a serious attitude, and sharp eyes that are almost cold. 

He penetrated and was tired of the superficiality and vanity of the upper-class social circle, and because of that weariness, and because of the sense of responsibility of the elite, he participated in the war. 

While examining the meaning of war with a critical eye, he is also eager to show his courage and win his own glory in the war. 

When he was wounded and dying, he realized how illusory and shallow the honor he once valued and pursued was, how absurd and insignificant it was compared to the eternal peace of mind and human happiness.

Although Andre's untimely death is heart-wrenching, his spiritual epiphany when he was dying makes people feel the sublimation of his thoughts.

Insight Seven: The Kind-hearted Maria and the Power of Goodness

Kind people will reap good luck. In the book, Maria is ugly but kind-hearted. Instead of getting angry when Maria's suitor flirts with her female teacher, she feels that she should withdraw herself to fulfill them; although her father has some eccentricities and is very harsh on Maria, Maria stayed with and took care of her father until his death; before Maria left the manor during the war, she still cared about the safety of other people in the manor and wanted to take them away with her... 

Maria is the second female in the book, she has no female first No. Natasha is beautiful, intelligent, and versatile, but she wins no less happiness than Natasha in the end.

I only read "War and Peace" twice, and one of them was the abbreviated version. The full version I read was the 1957 edition of the New Literature and Art Publishing House collected by my grandfather.

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