Tolstoy on what it takes to win
Business books give you tactical advice for right now, but little in the way of wisdom. I prefer to read classics and history as a reflection of what is timeless and permanent in life. What knowledge and wisdom has stood the test of time through the decades, centuries, and even millennia? Human nature doesn’t change.
Here’s a passage from Leo Tolstoy’s gargantuan classic War & Peace, which I started three times in different years to finally finish recently. Whether you’re trying to win in life, sports, work, or startups I think you’ll be able to relate and find some inspiration here.
And it is well for a people who do not — as the French did in 1813
salute according to all the rules of art, and,
presenting the hilt of their rapier gracefully and politely,
hand it to their magnanimous conqueror,
but at the moment of trial,
without asking what rules others have adopted in similar cases,
simply and easily pick up the first cudgel that comes to hand
and strike with it
till the feeling of resentment and revenge in their soul yields
to a feeling of contempt and compassion.
- Leo Tolstoy, War & Peace
1828–1910 (Russia)
Read the book:
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Do you also find inspiration in history? Any striking examples in mind? Please share so we can benefit, too.
Managing Director | Adjunct Professor| Board Member| Cultural Diversity
6 年Yes, have read it twice. Think it's the best novel ever written. I use Shakespeare (wrote article about that recently which I posted on LinkedIn), poets - especially love Yeats - and many philosophers, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Wittgenstein, Berlin...Am no expert on philosophy though, just an amateur.
Managing Director | Adjunct Professor| Board Member| Cultural Diversity
6 年Couldn't agree more, Aki. I believe great literature and philosophy can teach us so much more than transient business self help books. I often use War and Peace in my teaching. Tolstoy is also great at describing European national characteristics. Interesting to apply them to the current EU situation.