A good source of wisdom quotes from Tolstoy and others can be a great inspiration in our daily lives.

For each day of the year, several quotes with a common theme are featured. These quotes offer valuable insights and perspectives on various aspects of life, such as love, happiness, success, and more.

Tolstoy, in particular, was a master of expressing profound truths in simple words. His quotes can make us think deeply about our own lives and the world around us.

By reading and reflecting on these quotes regularly, we can gain a better understanding of ourselves and others, and perhaps even find the motivation and inspiration we need to make positive changes in our lives.

Whether we are facing challenges or simply looking for a bit of wisdom and guidance, these quotes can be a valuable resource. So, take some time each day to read and reflect on the quotes, and see how they can enrich your life.

My favourite quote from today is "To know yourself is to discover the good that lies within." (N.B.: it's the only secular one from the 16th.)

This book is one of those 365-day compendia of pithy one-liners. It features quotes from various sources. Plutarch, Thoreau, and a couple other wise men are quoted. I'm sure the author himself is also included. It's not entirely Christian as it contains Egyptian quotes and stuff from Lao-tzu.

There's also content from the Talmud and Confucius, Strakov and Schopenhauer, Demosthenes and Cicero, Pascal and Bentham, and many more that I missed mentioning since I haven't read as widely in the literature as clearly Tolstoy has.

This book was collected by Tolstoy late in his life. I don't really know who Strakov is myself, but I know who everyone else is. (I just read that he is someone important from somewhere else.) I'm a bit sketchy about the details of Demosthenes too. Wikipedia says Cicero likes him, so I like him too. He must be a good guy.

It is somewhat woo-ey, as in pseudo-scientific, but overall it is harmless. It provides a diverse range of thoughts and ideas that can inspire and make one think. It's a nice collection to dip into from time to time and gain some wisdom and inspiration.

It's always highly tempting, especially when reading the great novelists, to attempt to sift through the text in order to discover something about their own personal opinions and beliefs. However, it can be quite tricky. We might misinterpret, or see things that we desire to see, or even ascribe meaning where there is actually none, particularly. With a book like this, it becomes a bit easier. Tolstoy essentially created his own "quote of the day" calendar. However, there is more than one (themed) quote per day and he also adds a little piece of his own commentary. Sometimes it's as brief as a sentence, and at other times it can be as long as a couple of paragraphs. According to the introduction, this was his pet project. Readers can thereby see what questions of ethics, philosophy, and religion mattered most to him. The vast majority of the subject matter is religious (particularly Christian, although a substantial amount also comes from other traditions). Since I'm not religious myself, I can admire the writing and the emphasis on kindness, for example, without sympathizing with everything that Tolstoy does. For instance, he seems to have a consistent dislike for science. It's quite evident that he thinks it's a waste of time and brain space when people could be focusing on their spiritual life and such. At one point, there's a piece of writing that laments the waste of intellect in figuring out why water freezes or (my favorite!) how diseases spread, because goodness knows it's easier to contemplate the divine in perfect happiness if all your children are dead of whooping cough. The book would have received three stars from me if it weren't for that particular emphasis.

However, no higher. The introduction sort of poisoned the book for me and the disappointment endured. Apparently, in the original text (one of them at least), Tolstoy wrote what seemed to be very highly regarded short stories, one for each week of the year. But, the translator claims that they didn't appear in all editions and they're quite long altogether (!) so he didn't bother. Frankly, I would rather have read the stories. Given that Tolstoy's great novels were massive doorstopper books, surely the page count could have been increased here to compensate.

This is a truly remarkable and neat book. It masterfully encapsulates Tolstoy's profound later spiritual thoughts within a collection of his own and ancient sayings.

The original edition had an additional feature of including 52 short stories, yet the current English translation unfortunately omits them. However, the tone of the book remains constant and consistent, as it should be. Each page is carefully designed to correspond to a day in the calendar, serving as a source of daily meditation.

Tolstoy himself held this book in such high regard that he would consult it daily for the remainder of his life. The teachings within are attributed to a diverse range of historical figures, including Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Lao-Tzu, Buddha, Pascal, Jesus, Muhammad, Confucius, Socrates, Seneca, Emerson, Kant, Mazzini, Ruskin, and Thoreau, among others.

The quote on December 31, "The past does not exist. The future has not begun. The present is an infinitely small point in time in which the already nonexistent past meets the imminent future. At this point, which is timeless, a person's real life exists," is particularly thought-provoking. It reminds one of Augustine's treatise on time from Book XI of his Confessions. This quote challenges us to focus on the present moment and realize that our true existence lies within this infinitesimal point in time.

Leo Tolstoy's book can be said to be a crystallization of his thoughts on the soul, God, and personal cultivation.

Perhaps this book is suitable for those who have a religious inclination.

It is also very worthy of reading and savoring every day.

Tolstoy delved deep into these profound themes, offering readers unique insights and perspectives.

The book not only explores the nature of the soul and the existence of God but also provides guidance on how to cultivate a noble character.

By reading this book, one can gain a better understanding of oneself and the world around us.

It can inspire us to reflect on our values and beliefs, and strive to become better people.

Whether you are a believer or not, Tolstoy's book has something to offer.

It is a literary masterpiece that can touch the hearts and souls of readers.

So, pick up this book and embark on a journey of spiritual exploration and personal growth.

The last couple of years have been truly wonderful as I've indulged in a kind of daily reading exercise. It has been an absolute delight to spend some precious time delving into Tolstoy's brilliant brain each and every morning.

However, as the new year 2021 approaches, I have decided to relieve myself of this particular routine. Even though I have found the book's design to be aesthetically pleasing and its contents utterly captivating, I feel that it's time for a change.

Perhaps I'll explore other literary works or engage in different forms of mental stimulation. Nevertheless, I will always cherish the memories and the knowledge I've gained from my daily encounters with Tolstoy's masterpieces.

Who knows what new adventures and discoveries await me in the literary world this year? Only time will tell.

Even if we don't want that, we can't help but feel our connection with the rest of humanity.

We are linked through industry, trade, art, and knowledge.

And most importantly, through our shared vulnerability.

Our lives are intertwined in countless ways, whether we realize it or not.

The global economy means that what happens in one part of the world can have an impact on us all.

Our cultural exchanges allow us to learn from and appreciate the diversity of others.

And in times of crisis, we see the power of human solidarity as people come together to help those in need.

Recognizing our connection with the rest of humanity is not only important for our own well-being, but also for the future of our planet.

We must work together to address the challenges we face, such as climate change, poverty, and inequality.

Only by doing so can we create a more just and sustainable world for all.

In het Nederlands gelezen (in twee etappes)

Tja, het was een allegaartje zonder structuur (waarom?!). Elke dag kreeg ik een wijze les via citaten van filosofen en een korte beschouwing van Tolstoj. De kracht van herhaling was duidelijk aanwezig en in willekeurige volgorde leerden we verschillende dingen.

We leerden dat oorlog en vlees eten zeer slecht zijn. Religie werd genoemd als het fundament voor een goed leven omdat het handvatten biedt bij het bereiken van morele vervolmaking. Er werden enkele verwijzingen gemaakt naar georganiseerde religie, zoals “als christenen zich aan hun eigen wet hielden, waren er geen armen en rijken”. Het werd aangeraden om niet de zin van het bestaan te doorgronden, maar eerder te focussen op de praktischere vraag “wat moet ik doen”, omdat die als mens wel te beantwoorden is.

We moesten ook bescheiden, vriendelijk en ruimhartig zijn, zowel in woord (incl. kwantiteit), daad als vooral in gedachten, aangezien deze het startpunt van de anderen zijn. We moesten streng zijn voor onszelf en mild voor anderen. Daarnaast moesten we ons eigen verstand gebruiken en onze innerlijke maatstaf van goed en kwaad volgen in plaats van ons eigen gedrag te rechtvaardigen omdat anderen dat ook doen. We moesten altijd de oorzaak (en oplossing) van ons lijden zoeken in onszelf. Ten slotte werd gezegd dat werk goed is en bezit (zeker particulier bezit van land gezien het door de geschiedenis heen zo vaak oneigenlijk verkregen is) kwalijk.

Excellent daily reader.

I have never had the desire to use a daily reader in the past because they necessarily lack depth. However, the thing is with "Wise Thoughts for Every Day" is that despite each entry being only 4 - 8 sentences in length, it often uses impeccable analogies to illustrate the core meaning on a deeper level.

I don't imagine that the average individual would have a good time writing 365 "Wise Thoughts" and including clear concise analogies within the majority of the pieces. I imagine that Tolstoy develops these incredible examples because he was already a masterful writer.

It's almost as if each of the entries is something like a poem because it communicates in a manner that exceeds the words alone.

I am sleepy and not writing my best book review ever and I apologize for that. I should have just suggested that you read the introduction to the book as a preview in order to get a proper review of the material.

Overall, "Wise Thoughts for Every Day" is a remarkable daily reader that offers profound insights in a concise and engaging way. It is a great addition to anyone's daily routine, providing inspiration and food for thought.

Despite my current state of tiredness, I highly recommend this book to those who are looking for a meaningful and thought-provoking read.

I decided to give this book a try starting from January 1st and continuing until mid-February. However, unfortunately, it just didn't meet my expectations.

To be honest, it struck me as being overly religious, which didn't quite align with my personal preferences.

In contrast, I much prefer "The Daily Stoic". I truly believe that it is 10000 times better and far more suitable for my daily life.

The teachings and principles in "The Daily Stoic" seem to resonate with me on a deeper level, offering practical wisdom and guidance that I can easily apply to various situations.

While this other book may have its merits for some people, for me, "The Daily Stoic" is the clear winner when it comes to self-help and personal growth.

I will continue to explore and learn from "The Daily Stoic" and see how it can further enhance my life and perspective.

This book truly did not age well.

It is predominantly filled with a plethora of useless cliches and tiresome religious drivel that seems to go on and on.

Moreover, it is mind-numbingly repetitive, making it a real chore to get through.

In fact, one could argue that perhaps only around 1% of the entire book holds any real value.

The rest of it is simply, well, shit.

The author completely lost me when he wrote:
“You should never feel depressed. A man should always feel happy; if he is unhappy it means he is guilty.”
This statement is not only simplistic but also quite absurd.

Don't waste your precious time on this book.

Instead, you would be much better off cleaning your room or engaging in some other productive activity.

Trust me, you'll thank yourself later.

In March 15, 1884, at the age of 56, thus, Tolstoy decided to become wise and noted this in his Journal: "I must make a circle of readings for myself." He decided to meditate every day on a single statement. Said and done...

He chose significant quotes, translated them (from French, German, English, etc.), processed them, and then placed them on specific days in the calendar. The main idea of the writer can be formulated like this: "The most precious knowledge teaches you how to live. It describes, in essence, the meaning of life." Also in the note from March 15, Tolstoy listed his favorite sages: the editors of the Gospels, Epictetus, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Blaise Pascal, Kant, Lichtenberg, Amiel, Emerson, Schopenhauer, John Ruskin, etc. He especially esteems the authors who have criticized compulsory and thoughtless reading.

So, a Manual of Wisdom, an anthology, "a commonplace book" was created. And since wisdom should not be hidden under a bushel (it is wise to give, not to possess a treasure alone), after 17 years, Tolstoy decided to make the result public. The published book contains

several hundred aphorisms about life, death, meaning, knowledge, God...

What kind of quotes did Tolstoy choose? I can't say he didn't have taste. Most of them refer to reading, to the idea that the wise person reads very little and only selectively: "It is better to know a few useful things than many useless things." This was for January 1. So, the best thing is to know (from books) as little as possible, but the little known should make you think. It is better to think than to flip through hundreds of authors aimlessly.

The precept is old. Seneca, Montaigne, Kant, Ralph Waldo Emerson repeated it. Flaubert will formulate it as follows: "How learned we would be if we limited ourselves to reading only five or six books!"