Leo Tolstoy

Non-Activity

"War and Peace" Scene of 1812 Patriotic war, by Fyodor Petrovich Tolstoy, Public

From Wikipedia: "Non-Activity" is an 1893 article by Leo Tolstoy and also the term used to describe Tolstoy's form of anarchist and pacifist thought. This thinking of Tolsoty's was influenced by wuwei (無為, "inaction"), a Taoist concept of finding victory by withdrawing from action. Sometimes Tolstoy's "non-activity" is translated as "under-activity" and others have called it "non-violent non-cooperation." Online text from RevoltLib.com.

The Inevitable Revolution

The Inevitable Revolution (Неизбежный переворот) is an essay written by Leo Tolstoy on July 5, 1909 about abolishing the law of violence and replacing it with the law of love. It is generally considered a text on civil disobedience, pacifism, and anarchism, and it is Tolstoy's last non-fiction work detailing his final opinions on political, economic, and religious issues. Online text from RevoltLib.com.

The First Step

Leo Tolstoy eating a vegetarian breakfast.

An 1891 work espousing complete nonviolence, stemming from vegetarianism, this essay was translated in 1909 by Aylmer Maud. Note that there are many "slightly altered" versions of this essay floating around, and it is nearly impossible to guarantee the exactness of this version, as it is not uncommon for an extra sentence to be added or removed depending on the publisher's agenda. Online text from RevoltLib.com.

I Cannot Be Silent! - Leo Tolstoy

Members of an underground group awaiting execution

A response to the hanging of twenty peasants who had assaulted their landowner, this essay denounces capital punishment. Originally published July 15, 1908.

The State - Leo Tolstoy

A powerful essay on the criminality of the states and on their utter superfluity.

Patriotismo kaj Registaro - Lev Tolstoj

Eseo de Lev Tolstoj pri la interrillato de Patriotismo kaj Naciaj Statoj.

Patriotism and Government - Leo Tolstoy

One of Tolstoy many attacks on Patriotism, its role in warfare and prop for governments and states.

Anarchist Modernity: Cooperatism and Japanese-Russian Intellectual Relations in Modern Japan

Mid-nineteenth century Russian radicals who witnessed the Meiji Restoration saw it as the most sweeping revolution in recent history and the impetus for future global progress. Acting outside imperial encounters, they initiated underground transnational networks with Japan.