Selection from Leo Tolstoy’s Book “Bethink Yourselves!” Chapter 10

“Bethink Yourselves!” by Leo Tolstoy was written in a time of war. The short book was a persuasive appeal for peace, making one see the value in not fighting and causing suffering to humankind. “Love your enemies, and ye will have none,” Only such people realizing the kingdom of God in themselves, in their souls, will establish, without directly aiming at this purpose, that external Kingdom of God which every human soul is longing for. So that the only certain means of man’s salvation consists merely in ceasing to do that which hinders men from assimilating the true religion which already lives in their consciousness.