War and Peace Quotes that Own my Soul

April 4, 2022 | Dara Marie | @thornfield_lane

Tomorrow, April 5th, marks the two-year anniversary of my transcendence into a whole new realm of English nerd. A.k.a., when I finished reading War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy for the first time. And if you’re wondering, no: I have not fully recovered yet.

As I have mentioned before in previous posts, War and Peace is one of my favorite novels. It’s full of rich emotion, romance, and burning questions about humanity. With an over 1,000-page length, there’s plenty of room for beautiful writing as well. Tolstoy is a wordsmith, and I would like to give you a glimpse into some of my favorite quotes from his Russian epic:

“You see, friend… we’re asleep until we love. We’re children of dust...but fall in love—and you’re God, you’re pure as on the first day of creation.” (131) 

Love is by no means an original topic in literature, art, or poetry. An artist’s unique way of describing/capturing it makes it fresh again and again. To me, this quote makes love appear as something fit for everyone. As something fit for far more than just the rich and famous. How beautiful. 

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“Who’s right, and who’s wrong? No one. You’re alive—so live: tomorrow you’ll die, just as I could have died an hour ago. And is it worth suffering, when there’s only a second left to live compared with eternity?” (318)

This quote reminds us to enjoy life and not remain worried over and regretting the past. Life happens in the present, so live it. 

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“And what does she need the money for? As if this money can add one hair’s breadth to her happiness, her peace of mind? Can anything in the world make her or me less subject to evil and death?” (348) 

Our friend Pierre is quite existential. However, he has a point here. In the long run, what good is money? It can’t buy happiness, love, or peace and often causes more trouble than it’s worth. I hate how much our world runs off it. It’s such a point of divide and contention among people.

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“We can know only that we know nothing, and that is the highest degree of human wisdom.” (348) 

This speaks for itself. What more is there to say?

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“To live only so as not to do evil, so as not to repent, is too little. I used to live that way, I lived for myself, and I ruined my life. And only now, when I live, or at least try to live...for others, only now have I understood all the happiness of life.” (384)

While it can be hard to reach out to others when we’re feeling empty ourselves, it often leads to great joy. It’s incredible how service can be a remedy to the soul.

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He did not even understand now how he could ever have doubted the necessity of taking an active part in life… (423) 

I love this idea of ‘taking an active part in life’. This quote comes at a moment when the character Prince Andrei, who has dealt with major disappointments and tragedies up until this point, realizes there is more to life than his depression. He sees hope for the first time and reaches for it. As someone who has personally struggled with depression, this hits me hard.

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....no truth presents itself to two people in the same way (436).

This is important to remember when interacting with people. We all lead different lives with different perspectives. Because of that, we have to learn to listen and understand in order to eradicate contention.

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She breathed out happiness and love… (490) 

This is describing my favorite character, Countess Natasha. This is such a lovely way to be thought of and I hope I can one day achieve it.

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...and war began—that is, an event took place contrary to human reason and to the whole of the human nature. (603)

War has occurred throughout history and has brought so much damage in its path. It’s easy to look at history or even at current events and think human nature is skewed. This, at least, provides an ounce of hope that although we are prone to it, it is not inherently within us.

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It was strange for Princess Marya to think that now, at a moment when such grief filled her soul, there could be rich and poor people, and that the rich would not help the poor. (726)

It’s sad how divided we are by economic status when in reality, we’re all struggling. This is a beautiful sentiment to how people should be more accepting and helpful towards each other, especially those less fortunate than them.

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“I understood her,” thought Prince Andrei, “I not only understood her, but it was that inner force, that sincerity, that inner openness, that soul of hers, which was as if bound by her body, it was that soul that I loved...loved so strongly, so happily…” (777)

This is how every girl wants to be spoken about: that someone is in love with their soul rather than their body.

Your honor, this is exhibit A for my argument that fictional men are better than real men. Thank you. 

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Prince Andrei could no longer restrain himself, and he wept tender, loving tears over people, over himself, and over their and his own errors. (814)

We are all so perfectly imperfect. Can we stop and appreciate that the way Andrei did, for just a moment?

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“A word spoken is silver, unspoken is gold.” (843) 

Words are easy to fake. Actions are harder. Show someone your love, your loyalty, your friendship through more than just fancy talk.

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...but her heart was not in it; and she could not and did not know how to do things if not with all her heart, with all her might. (853) 

One of the reasons I love the character Natasha is that I relate to her in many ways. This was a quote that made me feel connected to her. I am a very passionate person by nature, and when I enjoy something, I get fully immersed in it. Just take a quick look around my blog and you’ll see what an interest in books at a young age led to.

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“Loving with a human love, one can pass from love to hatred; but divine love cannot change. Nothing, not even death, nothing can destroy it. It is the essence of the soul.” (921)

This is the best description of unconditional love I’ve ever read. Divine love.

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“You suffer an hour, you live an age!” (969)

This is a very hopeful thought when you’re in the middle of a rocky time in life. 

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“You know that for me there is nothing in life without you, and to suffer with you is the best happiness for me.” (1077) 

I honestly believe this is one of, if not, the most romantic lines in all literature. At first glance, it feels contradictory. Suffering denotes pain while happiness denotes safety. How can they coexist in such a way? Love. Finding the peace in each other’s company, in working through grief and pain together. This line is, simply, beautiful.

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Love awoke, and life awoke. (1080) 

On its own, this line is beautiful. In context, it warms my soul. This comes at a moment when a character finally understands what it means to have compassion and it moves her to care for others deeper than she had before. 

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The stars, as if knowing that no one could see them now, frolicked in the black sky. Now flaring up, now going out, now quivering, they busily whispered among themselves about something joyful but mysterious. (1096) 

I love stars. They have held sentimental value for me for a long time, so I loved reading such a poetic description of them.

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...there was a new feature in Pierre which won him the favor of all people: this was the recognition of the possibility for each person of thinking, feeling, and looking at things in his own way; the recognition of the impossibility of changing a person’s opinion with words. (1107)

As I have commented on a previous quote, we are all unique. Being able to recognize and adhere to that is such a rare and wonderful talent we should all strive for.

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“They say: misfortunes, sufferings,” said Pierre. “Well, if someone said to me right now, this minute: do you want to remain the way you were before captivity, or live through it all over again? For God’s sake, captivity again and horesemeat! 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. As long as there’s life, there’s happiness. There’s much, much still to come.” (1118)

This is such a strong statement for Pierre to say after suffering through harsh imprisonment where he nearly lost his life on multiple occasions. It shows his true character growth and humility, and definitely makes us stop to think for a moment.

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For a few seconds they looked into each other’s eyes, and the distant and impossible suddenly became near, possible, and inevitable. (1144)

Gorgeous. Simply, gorgeous. Concise, poetic: gorgeous.

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“Not dear for being pretty, but pretty for being dear.” (1152) 

If there are any men reading this: please take note that this is also how every girl hopes to be looked at.

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The princess had the air of someone who has suddenly become disappointed in the whole human race. (75)

After such a long post of sentimental, sappy, romantic lines, I thought I’d end with a funny one. I think we’ve all had moments like the princess here.

Of course, my favorite humorous line in the entire book is hands down and forevermore: 

He walked with a restrained swagger that would have been ridiculous if he had not been so good-looking… (561)

I mean, come on! You can’t top that description! Tolstoy is a wiz.

Have you read War and Peace? What are your favorite lines? What's your favorite line from this list? I'd love to hear from you! You can connect with me through thornfield.lane@gmail.com or on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter: @thornfield_lane.