The government knows that we refuse military service inasmuch as we have simply decided not to violate the rights of any, so-to-speak living creature, especially human beings. By refusing to carry out their duties, our elders and community law enforcers have stated that they are not in a position to govern their districts, i.e., people like themselves, not that they would disobey their elders. - In principle, according to our convictions, elders must always be obeyed; it is only that we must not be elders ourselves. […] The question of ‘non-violent‘ resistance to evil‘ is completely answered to my mind, for which I offer you, on behalf of the whole community, our sincere and heartfelt gratitude. You, dear brother Lev Nikolaevich, have personally done a great deal for our age.

P. V. Verigin to L. N. Tolstoy (Obdorsk, August 1, 1896).

Peter Vasilevich Verigin

ca. 1912