Subject
Evil, Non-resistance to Books
Best books
Leo Tolstoy
A Letter to a Hindu
"A Letter to a Hindu" by Leo Tolstoy is a letter written in 1908 in response to an Indian activist seeking support for independence from colonial rule. Tolstoy argues that only through the principle of love and nonviolent resistance could India gain freedom. The letter prompted young Mohandas Gandhi to reach out to Tolstoy for guidance, profoundly influencing Gandhi's philosophy of peaceful protest that would eventually lead to Indian independence in 1947.
Leo Tolstoy
The Kingdom of God is Within You; What is Art?
"The Kingdom of God is Within You; What is Art?" by graf Leo Tolstoy is a philosophical work written in the late 19th century. The book explores two main themes: the profound implications of Christian teachings on non-resistance to evil and a critical analysis of the nature and purpose of art. Tolstoy emphasizes that true Christianity is about embodying love and non-violence, challenging prevailing interpretations of Christ’s teachings, while also contesting the commodification of art in society. At the start of the work, Tolstoy outlines his journey of rediscovering the essence of Christianity, focusing on the commandment of non-resistance to evil. He critiques the discrepancy between the Church's doctrines and Christ's teachings, asserting that society's reliance on violence contradicts the core of Christianity. Additionally, he introduces his arguments regarding art, suggesting that art must serve moral and societal purposes rather than mere aesthetic enjoyment. The opening portion sets an introspective tone, providing a foundation for the deeper discussions that follow about humanitarianism, moral integrity, and the role of art in fostering human connection.
Leo Tolstoy
"The Kingdom of God Is Within You" Christianity Not as a Mystic Religion but as a New Theory of Life
"The Kingdom of God Is Within You" by graf Leo Tolstoy is a philosophical treatise first published in 1894. Banned in Russia, this Christian anarchist work presents Tolstoy's radical interpretation of Christianity centered on universal love and absolute nonviolence. Drawing on the Sermon on the Mount, Tolstoy argues for dismantling all violent institutions, including governments and churches that support war. His vision profoundly influenced figures like Mohandas Gandhi, who credited the book with shaping his philosophy of passive resistance that would eventually help overthrow British colonial rule in India.
Clarence Darrow
Resist not evil
"Resist not evil" by Clarence Darrow is a political-philosophical treatise written in the early 20th century. It contends that states, armies, and courts are instruments of force, that punishment fails to reform or deter, and that non-resistance and humane solidarity offer the only rational path to social health. The opening of the treatise acknowledges Tolstoy’s influence and sets out a case for non-resistance by tracing the state’s origins to conquest and its modern continuity through armies, police, courts, and prisons. It argues that militarism burdens and brutalizes society, patriotism indoctrinates obedience, and standing armies chiefly exist to control domestic workers rather than repel foreign foes. Civil government is presented as militarism in disguise, enforcing property and class rule; punishment is portrayed as vengeance masquerading as justice, with shifting definitions of crime and arbitrary, harmful penalties. Early chapters attack deterrence—highlighting the brutalizing effect of public executions and the futility of prisons—and reframe crime as a social disease rooted in poverty, environment, and heredity, noting rises in “crime” in winter, hard times, and overcrowded old countries. They conclude that just judgment is impossible, proportional punishment cannot be measured, and state penalties multiply suffering by injuring families and communities, whereas food, opportunity, and kindness would address causes.
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