All the stories and descriptions of that time without exception peak only of the patriotism, self-sacrifice, despair, grief, and heroism of the Russians. But in reality it was not like that...The majority of the people paid no attention to the general course of events but were influenced only by their immediate personal interests.

... a man has to think of his soul before everything else.

In spite of death, he felt the need of life and love. He felt that love saved him from despair, and that this love, under the menace of despair, had become still stronger and purer. The one mystery of death, still unsolved, had scarcely passed before his eyes, when another mystery had arisen, as insoluble, urging him to love and to life.

When one's head is gone one doesn't weep for one's hair!

God gave the day, God gave the strength.

Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

Talent is the capacity to direct concentrated attention upon the subject: "the gift of seeing what others have not seen.