The man in this photo was no pauper, not a beggar, nor a tramp. This man was Leo Tolstoy, one of the giants of Russian literature. A household name that most book enthusiasts, if not all are familiar with. Few know the extraordinary story behind this photo
At the age of 50, Tolstoy fell into depression. His sadness grew day by day, for no reason. Tolstoy was a count, one of the richest men in his country, famous all over the world. But he was unhappy. “Money was nothing. Power was nothing. You could see many people who had both and were unhappy. Even health did not matter much. There were sick people full of the will to live and healthy people who withered in fear of suffering. “
One day on Afanasevsky Avenue, he saw an orphan and, moved by compassion, took him home. And for the first time in a long time, he felt good. He forgot about himself, his problems, his sadness. From that moment on, Tolstoy gave up his men’s clothes, luxuries, and privileges and began to lead a simple life, giving what he had to the needy.
“Do not talk to me about religion, charity, love,” he would say, “but show me religion in your actions.” Tolstoy was also the first theoretician of nonviolence. He preached brotherhood among peoples, and his ideas inspired another great figure of the 20th century, Mahatma Gandhi. Until the day of his death, he helped others, which is why many said he was crazy. In a world where only possessions, possession of things, and even people matter, where everyone wants to take, but no one knows how to give, Tolstoy seemed madman.
One day, his old friend, who, unlike Tolstoy, lived in comfort and luxury, said to him: “What is the point of all this? What do you care about others? You should think about yourself!” Tolstoy replied: “If you feel pain, you are alive, but if you feel the pain of others, you are human.”