Comments on: Tolstoy's "10 Rules of Life" http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 05:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: peterbruells http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1012994 peterbruells Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1012994 Are you, by any chance a night owl? Because, as someone who can do both, as long as I get enough sleep, I've certainly met annoyingly self-righteous people from both sides. (And the "I need only 4 hours of sleep (not counitng the afternoon nap) crowd. Are you, by any chance a night owl? Because, as someone who can do both, as long as I get enough sleep, I’ve certainly met annoyingly self-righteous people from both sides. (And the “I need only 4 hours of sleep (not counitng the afternoon nap) crowd.

]]> By: andyhavens http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013250 andyhavens Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013250 My 1 rule: Don't be an asshole. Everything else is negotiable. My 1 rule:

Don’t be an asshole.

Everything else is negotiable.

]]> By: kennapea http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013004 kennapea Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013004 Rule #11: Look forward to death as it will be the only form of entertainment you experience. Rule #11: Look forward to death as it will be the only form of entertainment you experience.

]]> By: Sekino http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013264 Sekino Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013264 <i>Go to bed early (nine to ten o'clock)</i> Ohohoho!! I smell serious BS: This very list reeks of 'still up at 3:30am thinking too much'... Go to bed early (nine to ten o’clock)

Ohohoho!! I smell serious BS: This very list reeks of ‘still up at 3:30am thinking too much’…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013016 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013016 The biography of Sophia Tolstoy should be required reading before commenting on this post. Or at least a good understanding of that relationship at the very least. With knowledge of this some of these rules become quite humourous. The biography of Sophia Tolstoy should be required reading before commenting on this post. Or at least a good understanding of that relationship at the very least. With knowledge of this some of these rules become quite humourous.

]]> By: Saint Fnordius http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013019 Saint Fnordius Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013019 I think the thing to remember is that he was still a teenager when he wrote this, and my guess is that he later felt amusement at his youthful naïveté. It's less a view of Tolstoy as it is a view of what would have been the equivalent of an emo kid of his time. I think the thing to remember is that he was still a teenager when he wrote this, and my guess is that he later felt amusement at his youthful naïveté. It’s less a view of Tolstoy as it is a view of what would have been the equivalent of an emo kid of his time.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013025 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013025 Rule #22 Listen to Slayer Rule #22 Listen to Slayer

]]> By: POLOMOCHE http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013539 POLOMOCHE Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013539 "Tolstoy was inspired by Orthodox Christianity" - considering he was excommunicated by the church, I'm not sure I completely agree. 'Tolstoyism' was a variety of Christian anarchism that represented a huge threat to Orthodoxy. I won't attempt to summarize Tolstoy's ideas in a sentence or two, but they are well articulated in his book, 'The Kingdom of God is Within You' (which so influenced Ghandi's thinking - see his 'The Story of My Experiments With Truth'). If that is too dull (it is pretty dull) read his novels where belief is a central theme... Granted, the ascetic element certainly applies and isn't inconsistent with the core beliefs of Orthodoxy (which was sort of his point, that the church had strayed from them)... "Always live less expensively then you might" - well, at one point in his live he gambled away his family estate, not exactly prudent. And considering he was an extremely wealthy aristocrat living 'modestly' couldn't have been too difficult, though at the end of his life he did give away all his property and money due to his religious convictions. "Keep away from women" - His conquests were well documented in his personal diary - there is a scene in Anna Karenina where Levin gives Kitty his diary as a confession of his sordid past that came straight from Tolstoy's own experience. The main point: Tolstoy was a phenomenal writer - 'Anna Karenina' and 'War and Peace' in particular are fantastic novels that once you start you can't put down. You'll get a much better sense of his world view than from these 10 cliches. “Tolstoy was inspired by Orthodox Christianity” – considering he was excommunicated by the church, I’m not sure I completely agree.

‘Tolstoyism’ was a variety of Christian anarchism that represented a huge threat to Orthodoxy. I won’t attempt to summarize Tolstoy’s ideas in a sentence or two, but they are well articulated in his book, ‘The Kingdom of God is Within You’ (which so influenced Ghandi’s thinking – see his ‘The Story of My Experiments With Truth’). If that is too dull (it is pretty dull) read his novels where belief is a central theme… Granted, the ascetic element certainly applies and isn’t inconsistent with the core beliefs of Orthodoxy (which was sort of his point, that the church had strayed from them)…

“Always live less expensively then you might” – well, at one point in his live he gambled away his family estate, not exactly prudent. And considering he was an extremely wealthy aristocrat living ‘modestly’ couldn’t have been too difficult, though at the end of his life he did give away all his property and money due to his religious convictions.

“Keep away from women” – His conquests were well documented in his personal diary – there is a scene in Anna Karenina where Levin gives Kitty his diary as a confession of his sordid past that came straight from Tolstoy’s own experience.

The main point: Tolstoy was a phenomenal writer – ‘Anna Karenina’ and ‘War and Peace’ in particular are fantastic novels that once you start you can’t put down. You’ll get a much better sense of his world view than from these 10 cliches.

]]> By: randomly directed http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013548 randomly directed Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013548 So Tolstoy at 18 was a Forever Alone type. I never would have thought. So Tolstoy at 18 was a Forever Alone type. I never would have thought.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1014078 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1014078 For those too lazy to read a book, there is a recent film about Tolstoy, wherein he's portrayed by that great Canadian actor Christopher Plummer: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824758/ ..and it seems it deals with precisely those issues with his wife to which you refer. PS Funny how the youthful womanizer ended up being so vexed by a woman in his dotage. Serves him right! For those too lazy to read a book, there is a recent film about Tolstoy, wherein he’s portrayed by that great Canadian actor Christopher Plummer:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824758/

..and it seems it deals with precisely those issues with his wife to which you refer.

PS Funny how the youthful womanizer ended up being so vexed by a woman in his dotage. Serves him right!

]]> By: mannekenn http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013060 mannekenn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013060 lolwat. Tolstoy was inspired by Orthodox Christianity, where ascetism is a central element. Obviously the rules don't make that much sense to most of us, as most of us are hedonists. But then again — we don't make much sense to the Orthodox, seeing us ravage around, seeking the next stimulant after the other until we've exhausted our means. Meanwhile, the Orthodox sit and relax, drinking tea. Like a boss. Orthodox Christianity is way different world than most of the Christianity you hear about in the news. We best avoid judging them without actually understanding their motives, lest we want to appear as smug hipsters. lolwat. Tolstoy was inspired by Orthodox Christianity, where ascetism is a central element. Obviously the rules don’t make that much sense to most of us, as most of us are hedonists. But then again — we don’t make much sense to the Orthodox, seeing us ravage around, seeking the next stimulant after the other until we’ve exhausted our means. Meanwhile, the Orthodox sit and relax, drinking tea. Like a boss.

Orthodox Christianity is way different world than most of the Christianity you hear about in the news. We best avoid judging them without actually understanding their motives, lest we want to appear as smug hipsters.

]]> By: Saint Fnordius http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013066 Saint Fnordius Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013066 My comment mostly referred to the fact that Tolstoy seemed to toss this advice out the window himself. Avoid women? He was married and had kids. Eat little and avoid sweets? Another case where he ignored his younger self's advice. Perhaps he kept the list to remind himself of when he was far too serious, too sure he know all the answers. As for my "emo" comment, I was thinking of the brooding philosophical stance so many we now call "emo" try to project. It seems to be a trait unique to our species that when on the cusp of adulthood, we suddenly think we finally know the answers to life. It's not the advice per se, but the "I know what is right" that the list projected. My comment mostly referred to the fact that Tolstoy seemed to toss this advice out the window himself. Avoid women? He was married and had kids. Eat little and avoid sweets? Another case where he ignored his younger self’s advice. Perhaps he kept the list to remind himself of when he was far too serious, too sure he know all the answers.

As for my “emo” comment, I was thinking of the brooding philosophical stance so many we now call “emo” try to project. It seems to be a trait unique to our species that when on the cusp of adulthood, we suddenly think we finally know the answers to life. It’s not the advice per se, but the “I know what is right” that the list projected.

]]> By: IamInnocent http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013069 IamInnocent Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013069 Why "ten" ? Is it a magical number ? Are the rules really important when you decide in advance that there should be 10 of them, no less, no more. Tolstoî make you feel great of not being a great man. Why “ten” ? Is it a magical number ? Are the rules really important when you decide in advance that there should be 10 of them, no less, no more.

Tolstoî make you feel great of not being a great man.

]]> By: Yamara http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013344 Yamara Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013344 Maybe "Keep away from <b>armed</b> women." That at least seems more sensible and within possibility. Maybe “Keep away from armed women.”

That at least seems more sensible and within possibility.

]]> By: Merzmensch http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013359 Merzmensch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013359 "Be good, but try to let no one know it" - I want to print out this sentence on my t-shirt! “Be good, but try to let no one know it” – I want to print out this sentence on my t-shirt!

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1014642 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1014642 Quite the ascetic list, no? Quite the ascetic list, no?

]]> By: djfatsostupid http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013115 djfatsostupid Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013115 It's nice to know that even a great author like Tolstoy was a total moron when he was 18. It’s nice to know that even a great author like Tolstoy was a total moron when he was 18.

]]> By: hukes http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013122 hukes Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013122 "Change nothing in your style of living even if you become ten times richer" But what if I become ten times poorer? “Change nothing in your style of living even if you become ten times richer”

But what if I become ten times poorer?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1019010 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1019010 1. When you get old, you will get up several times a night to go to the bathroom, that includes 5 A.M. 2. I have trouble staying awake all day. 3. Not a problem for fixed income people. 4. "Live Alone and Look It" is my favorite book title. Whose helping? 5. My goal is getting to the bathroom on time. 6. Can I look at the pictures? 7. Work kills me. 8. Non-starter. 9. No soup for you. Obama did not raise my cost-of-living S.S. this year. 10. Yeah, right. See number nine. 1. When you get old, you will get up several times a night to go to the bathroom, that includes 5 A.M.
2. I have trouble staying awake all day.
3. Not a problem for fixed income people.
4. “Live Alone and Look It” is my favorite book title. Whose helping?
5. My goal is getting to the bathroom on time.
6. Can I look at the pictures?
7. Work kills me.
8. Non-starter.
9. No soup for you. Obama did not raise my cost-of-living S.S. this year.
10. Yeah, right. See number nine.

]]> By: DoctressJulia http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013635 DoctressJulia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013635 THIS. THIS.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013142 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013142 These are not bad rules. Most modern happiness studies would agree with Tolstoy's rules, and a few of them show great wisdom for a teenager. In the best-selling book "The Millionaire Next Door", the author concluded that most millionaires got that way by living frugally, even when they had the money to live otherwise. Almost every book about success in business endeavors will advise you to break larger long-term goals into smaller, short-term ones. The scourge of diabetes in this country would be eliminated by adherence to Tolstoy's stricture to lay off the sweets. And I know many people whose very worst life decisions can be attributed to chasing skirts. These are not bad rules. Most modern happiness studies would agree with Tolstoy’s rules, and a few of them show great wisdom for a teenager. In the best-selling book “The Millionaire Next Door”, the author concluded that most millionaires got that way by living frugally, even when they had the money to live otherwise. Almost every book about success in business endeavors will advise you to break larger long-term goals into smaller, short-term ones. The scourge of diabetes in this country would be eliminated by adherence to Tolstoy’s stricture to lay off the sweets. And I know many people whose very worst life decisions can be attributed to chasing skirts.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1014678 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1014678 Notice that old good Tolstoy didn't say anything about Chilean wine? I love Tolstoy. Salud!! Notice that old good Tolstoy didn’t say anything about Chilean wine? I love Tolstoy. Salud!!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013153 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013153 I hope he got wiser as he got older. I hope he got wiser as he got older.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1012909 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1012909 No wonder the Russians lost the Cold War. Tolstoy's rules of life reworked by me. Go to bed early (nine to ten o'clock)... The next morning. Eat little and avoid sweets.... Later. Try to do everything by yourself....After you can't get someone else to do it for you. Keep away from women. NOT! No wonder the Russians lost the Cold War.

Tolstoy’s rules of life reworked by me.

Go to bed early (nine to ten o’clock)… The next morning.

Eat little and avoid sweets…. Later.

Try to do everything by yourself….After you can’t get someone else to do it for you.

Keep away from women. NOT!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1012911 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1012911 But I LIKE women. They can be bloody cuddly. But I LIKE women. They can be bloody cuddly.

]]> By: Joe The Wizard http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1013682 Joe The Wizard Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1013682 11 - Don't take advice from 18 year olds. 11 – Don’t take advice from 18 year olds.

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1012915 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1012915 <blockquote>Keep away from women</blockquote> If passenger airlines existed in Tolstoy’s time, I’m fairly confident he would have strong opinions on airplane food.

Keep away from women

If passenger airlines existed in Tolstoy’s time, I’m fairly confident he would have strong opinions on airplane food.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1012918 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1012918 Keep away from women huh... I might be able to do everything on there except that. Keep away from women huh… I might be able to do everything on there except that.

]]> By: mudshark23 http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1012921 mudshark23 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1012921 Goals are vastly important to a fulfilling life. So is sex. Goals are vastly important to a fulfilling life. So is sex.

]]> By: Brett Tonaille http://boingboing.net/2011/01/31/tolstoys-10-rules-of.html#comment-1014969 Brett Tonaille Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1014969 Avoid sweets AND women? For men of a certain type, that's redundant. Avoid sweets AND women?

For men of a certain type, that’s redundant.

]]>