"In old age it is possible and even necessary - but it is also possible in youth - to put yourself not only in the situation of the person condemned to death, but, moreover, in the situation of the one who is already walking towards the scaffold. How good: "I am, death is not. Death will come, and I will no longer be here." More than that, you must be prepared and not be surprised to find out what death is, not to make assumptions. The most positive aspect is that the whole life thus becomes solemn, serious. Yes, life is serious business.
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Author
Leo TolstoyAll Translations
All Translations
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In old age it is possible and even necessary - but it is also possible in youth - to put yourself not only in the situation of the person condemned to death, but, moreover, in the situation of the one who is already walking towards the scaffold. How good: "I am, death is not. Death will come, and I will no longer be here." More than that, you must be prepared and not be surprised to find out what death is, not to make assumptions. The most positive aspect is that the whole life thus becomes solemn, serious. Yes, life is serious business.
""La bătrânețe e cu putință și chiar trebuie - dar se poate și în tinerețe — să te pui nu numai în situația celui condamnat la moarte, ci, mai mult, în situația celui care deja pășește spre eșafod. Ce bine: „Eu sunt, moartea nu este. Moartea va veni, iar eu nu voi mai fi aici.“ Mai mult decât atât, trebuie să fii pregătit și să nu fii surprins să afli ce e moartea, să nu faci presupuneri. Aspectul cel mai pozitiv este că întreaga viața devine astfel solemnă, gravă. Da, viața e lucru serios."