The Doukhobors found alike their mutual relations and their relations to other people - and not only to people, but to all living creatures - exclusively on love; and therefore, they hold all people equal brethren. They extend this idea of equality also to the Government authorities; obedience to whom they do not consider binding upon them in those cases when the demands of these authorities are in conflict with their conscience; while, in all that does not infringe what they regard as the will of God, they willingly fulfil the desire of the authorities. They consider murder, violence, and in general all relations to living beings not based on love, as opposed to their conscience, and to the will of God.

Vladimir Chertkov: Their Martyrdom in Russia (in: Alexander M. Evalenko: The Message of the Doukhobors: a statement of true facts by „Christians of the Universal Brotherhood“ and by prominent champions of their cause (University of Michigan, 1913, pp. 84-92).

Vladimir Chertkov and
Leo Tolstoy