Leo Tolstoy - Thoughts from the book 'For Every Day' (1909)

I was surprised that nobody uploaded this historic recording, so I'm fixing the situation now.

One of the greatest Russian writer and my personal favorite, Leo Tolstoy (or Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, 1828.9.9 - 1910.11.20), reads a passage from his book "For Every Day" for G&T. Recorded in his estate at Yasnaya Polyana, Tula, Russia, on October 31st, 1909. He made dozens of Cylinder recordings with the Edison Dictaphone that Edison personally gave him as his 75th birthday present, but this is the only commercial recording he made. (Most of his Edison recordings can be heard on lots of internet sites)

Although he is speaking with heavy Slavonic accent, he says;

"That the object of life is self-perfection, the perfection of all immortal souls, that this is the only object of my life, is seen to be correct by the fact alone that every other object is essentially a new object. Therefore, the question whether thou hast done what thou shouldst have done is of immense importance, for the only meaning of thy life is in doing in this short term allowed thee, that which is desired of thee by He or That which has sent thee into life. Art thou doing the right thing?

This is a re-released copy from the 1920s. My grandfather got this copy in Japan in early-1930s, but after he died, this record was neglected in the damp garage, and there was a heavy crack on the surface, and mold covered the label. Fortunately, my grandfather made a zerox copy of the label some time ago (although I don't know why he made that) which I have shown to you in this short video.

Anyway, it is nice to hear something from one of the greatest writers of the World.

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[weimeranar]

I agree, Tolstoy is the first among a galaxy of great Russian authors. A thrill to hear his voice. Thanks so much.

[Marcolopolis5]

Thanks for this upload. It is surreal to hear his voice.

[petrustella]

Thanks a lot for this opportunity to enter in contact more directly with his soul...

I am listening it, preparing a speech on his teachings, for the commemorations of the centenary of his death, in Portugal...

[marcusflores09]

I've studied Russian, and I have to say his grasp of English is absolutely startling.

[hislord]

this man is amazing, and his convictions that he expressed in his book Redemption was what i went through in life. i don't want to bring religion into this but this man has truly reached what i would describe as a true christian....my life an convictions were so similar to his and i discovered i wasn't the only one who had them. unfortunately everyone religious and non-religious alike have accused me of stupidity.

[abspathi]

yes... yes.........say yes to pacifism. Magic of the green stick, the peace of a grassed grave,........ all did really hit my mind.

[raggedclown]

Thanks for a fascinating upload. Nice story of how you came by the recording too.

[polymath7]

I had no idea this recording existed. Would that I knew a word of Russian!

[polymath7]

Indeed, Tolstoy's grasp of human nature is simply unrivaled in all of literature, with the *sole* exception of Shakespeare.

But, though Shakepeare's characters are faultlessly convincing and authentic, they don't seem palpably *real*, if you know what I mean.

Andrei Bolkonski and Pierre Bezhukov however, though they dwell in a Tszarist Russia that could scarcely be more disimilar to the American midwest where I grew up, seem more tangibly real and alive to me than most my extended family.

[Friggs0820]

In my experience, thinking too much will drive a man crazy.

No doubt Tolstoy had bouts of madness since he was the ultimate thinker.

[Friggs0820]

Tolstoy is on another level. His ability to psychoanalyze a person before it became a professional practice still impresses me greatly.

What made Tolstoy a genius was his ability to fully understand people. A lot of writers paint inaccurate portrayals of people and the world. Tolstoy was precise in his portrayals. He could take on the viewpoint of anyone and I bet this characteristic led him to suffer in his personal life a great deal.

[axionication]

Utterly amazing. Never thought it.

Thanks.