[...] Once people lose the sense and purpose of what they do (their is only one purpose: the well-being of one‘s neighbour), once they decide that they can sacrifice the life and well-being of some old men or even an idiot whose life is a burden to everyone, then it is possible to sacrifice someone who is not quite as old or not quite as stupid and there is nowhere to draw line, anyone can be sacrificed for a cause. This is wrong and must be fought against. […] Once people realize the purpose of mankind is not material progress, that this progress is inevitable growth, and that there is only one purpose – the well-being of all people, that this purpose is higher than any material purpose, people can set for themselves, then everything will be in its proper place. And it is to this [end] that people of our time must direct their whole effort.

L. N. Tolstoy to P. V. Verigin
(Yasnaya Polyana, October 14, 1896)

 

Leo Tolstoy's deathbed

(Station master's home at Astapovo)