On This Week: Literary Fact Meet Leo tolstoy

by emma ugarelli

Every writer leaves something behind, but some writers leave us with questions that continue to matter long after their books are finished.
This week, we celebrate Leo Tolstoy, one of the most influential writers in world literature, born on September 9, 1828.
Best known for masterpieces such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Tolstoy explored the complexity of human life through stories about love, family, society, morality, choices, and the search for meaning. His characters are often faced with difficult decisions, inner conflicts, and questions about what truly matters.
But Tolstoy's importance goes beyond his novels. His reflections on life continue to make readers stop and think about their own choices and the way they see the world.
One of his most memorable thoughts is:
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
This quote reminds us that change does not always begin with other people or with the world around us. Sometimes, the most meaningful place to begin is with ourselves—with our attitudes, our choices, and the way we treat others.
Another simple but powerful quote attributed to Tolstoy says:
“If you want to be happy, be.”
There is something profound in the simplicity of these words.
We often think of happiness as something we need to find. We look for it in possessions, achievements, places, relationships, or future goals. We tell ourselves, I will be happy when...
But Tolstoy's words suggest another way of looking at happiness.
We do not always need to look around or chase happiness. Happiness begins within us.
It is not necessarily something waiting for us somewhere outside ourselves. It is a feeling that is deeply connected to the way we experience and respond to life. While circumstances can certainly affect us, our inner attitude, perspective, gratitude, and choices also play an important role in how we experience happiness.
Perhaps that is why such a short sentence can carry such a powerful message:
If you want to be happy, be.
Tolstoy's writing reminds us that literature can do more than entertain us. A good book can make us pause, question, reflect, and perhaps even see ourselves differently.
And sometimes, the most important story we can read is the one we are writing with our own lives.
Keep reading. Keep questioning. Keep growing.
Because great literature doesn't simply tell us about life—it can help us understand it.