LYOF N. TOLSTOÏ
XIX
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
IS WITHIN YOU
WHAT IS ART?
[Illustration: COUNT TOLSTOÏ PLOWING
FROM THE PAINTING BY REPIN]
THE NOVELS AND OTHER WORKS OF
LYOF N. TOLSTOÏ
THE KINGDOM OF
GOD IS WITHIN YOU
WHAT IS ART?
[Illustration: publisher mark]
NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1902
COPYRIGHT, 1899,
BY THOMAS V. CROWELL & CO.
INTRODUCTION
The present volume contains two contrasting treatises. The first is
religious, and shows in Count Tolstoï's earnest and eloquent manner
the meaning of Christ's words which he takes for his text,--"The
Kingdom of God is within you." The outward forms of religion,
however helpful they may be to some souls, are not essential; the
superstitions with which Faith sometimes clothes or masks herself
may or may not be uplifting; but the foundation of Christianity is
the truth contained in Christ's words, his simple, plain, undogmatic
commands and prohibitions.
One word sums it all up, and that word is Love. If the world should
take love for its guiding star, it is evident that all the evils
of the world would cease,--wars, crimes, poverty, ambitions; the
millennium would come! Count Tolstoï shows how that blessed period
may begin in every man. The translation of this beautiful and
inspiring book has been made by Mrs. Aline Delano of Boston.
In answering the question, "What is Art?" Count Tolstoï analyzes and
tests the various definitions given by other writers. He shows up
with merciless severity what he considers the fallacy in the popular
delusion that the fetish of Art pardons bestiality, obscenity, and
whatever conduces to stimulating the passions. The work is strongly
controversial, and attacks unsparingly many of the popular notions
of the day, as, for instance, that "Art is the manifestation of some
mysterious idea of God," or "the expression of man's emotions by
external signs," or the production of pleasing objects. He believes
that art has a loftier function, and he proceeds elaborately to
argue in favor of this universal activity, which should be to effect
a union among men so that they may have the same noble feelings and
progress together toward universal and individual well-being. "Art
for art's sake" is meaningless to him. It is interesting to notice
that the most original and independent of the French critics has
recently taken practically the same ground in a lecture, in which he
asserts that it is the critic's business to test art and literature,
and that art has a most intimate relation with morality.
Much of the book is racy and amusing; much of it is abstruse,
and requires close attention. But whether one follows the author
in his individual opinions or not, it cannot be denied that the
general tone of the treatise is helpful and uplifting, and that it
is based on sound common sense. Mr. Aylmer Maude of England is the
translator of this work, and has had the benefit of Count Tolstoï's
own suggestions in regard to certain points. As the special preface
explains, the translation accurately represents the author's views,
while the edition published in Russia was in many ways garbled
and distorted. The translators of both treatises have seized the
opportunity of carefully revising their work.
CONTENTS
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU
PAGE
INTRODUCTORY 1
CHAPTER I
Doctrine of non-resistance to evil, from the origin
of Christianity, has been, and still is, professed
by the minority of men 3
CHAPTER II
Opinions of believers and unbelievers in regard to
non-resistance 30
CHAPTER III
Misconception of Christianity by non-believers 47
CHAPTER IV
Misconception of Christianity by scientists 79
CHAPTER V
Contradiction of our life and Christian consciousness 100
CHAPTER VI
Attitude of men of the present day toward war 122
CHAPTER VII
Significance of the military conscription 152
CHAPTER VIII
Certainty of the acceptance of the Christian doctrine
of non-resistance to evil by violence by the men
of our world 171
CHAPTER IX
The acceptance of the Christian life-conception
delivers men from the miseries of our pagan life 194
CHAPTER X
Uselessness of violence for the destruction of
evil--The moral advance of mankind is accomplished,
not only through the knowledge of truth, but also
through the establishment of public opinion 218
CHAPTER XI
Christian public opinion already arises in our
society, and will inevitably destroy the system
of violence of our life--When this will come about 242
CHAPTER XII
Conclusion: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at
hand!" 254
WHAT IS ART?
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE 339
AUTHOR'S PREFACE 341
CHAPTER I
Time and labor spent on art--Lives stunted in its
service--Morality sacrificed to and anger
justified by art--The rehearsal of an opera
described 345