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Philosophical Haiku

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)

by Terence Green

The fool thinks he leads –
Mad Corsican, History’s pawn –
Honest rustic folk

Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a devoutly pious moralising ascetic vegetarian who just couldn’t keep his hands off the serving wenches. He believed in honesty at all times – so he honestly told his wife what he thought of her. Most marriage counsellors would advise against that. Born into great wealth, Tolstoy chose to live much of his life as a peasant.

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