At around one thousand pages, ‘A Calendar of Wisdom’ is the third largest book written by Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy. This monumental work, which Tolstoy meticulously compiled over 3 decades, serves as a handbook of wisdom. Organized like a calendar, it is divided into 365 entries, each corresponding to a day of the year. Each entry presents Tolstoy’s reflections on a specific topic, supported by quotes and anecdotes from a wide array of thinkers.
In this book, Tolstoy explores a vast range of themes, including love, faith, education, agriculture, nationalism, vegetarianism, women’s rights, war, and so on. His arguments are enriched with quotes from prominent figures such as Ruskin, Emerson, Locke, Thoreau, Seneca, and Schopenhauer. He also draws from the teachings of Confucius, Buddha, Muhammad, and Saadi, creating a rich tapestry of global wisdom.
The book’s opening entry, dated January 1, introduces its central theme: the value of essential knowledge. Tolstoy writes:
“It is better to know a little that is truly good and essential than to know much that is irrelevant and unnecessary.”
This statement encapsulates the essence of the work—a guide to living a fulfilling life through the pursuit of meaningful knowledge and moral wisdom.
One of Tolstoy’s recurring warnings throughout the book addresses the dangers of misinformation, a concept strikingly relevant to the modern age of social media. He states:
“Fear not ignorance, but false knowledge. All the evils of the world arise from it.”
Tolstoy also critiques the emphasis on the quantity of knowledge over its quality, a critique that extends to the scientific community:
“The value of knowledge lies not in its quantity but in its quality. One may know much yet remain ignorant of the most essential truths.“
“Knowledge and wisdom seldom align. A scientist may know many things, most of which are trivial or uncertain, while a wise man knows little, yet all he knows is both essential and certain.“
For Tolstoy, the key to a good life is simple: people must strive to be good. He asserts that goodness is vital not only for individual happiness and family well-being but also for the prosperity of societies. He writes:
“Knowledge is a tool, not an aim.“
However, Tolstoy critiques science when it strays from this purpose, arguing that it can cause harm if disconnected from ethical and spiritual aims:
“No one is more perplexed by the meaning of life or the nature of good and evil than the scientists of our age. This is why modern science, despite its remarkable achievements in understanding the material world, often appears both unnecessary and deeply harmful to human life.“
Similarly, Tolstoy challenges the value of art when it does not serve a higher purpose, echoing arguments he explored in ‘What Is Art?’.
The author also confronts religious orthodoxy, criticizing blind adherence to dogmas imposed by religious institutions:
“If you look carefully at the causes of the ignorance of the common people, you will find that the main cause is not, as we think, the lack of schools and libraries, but the superstitious beliefs that are inculcated in them, and that those who benefit from these superstitions impose them on them by all means of indoctrination.“
For Tolstoy, faith must be rational and transparent:
“Faith becomes reliable and strong only through understanding. The best religion is undoubtedly the clearest one. A religion filled with mysteries and contradictions only fosters disbelief. The God I worship is not a God of darkness; He would not endow me with reason only to forbid its use. To demand the subjugation of reason is an insult to the Creator. A true representative of truth does not oppress reason but illuminates it.“
Tolstoy’s criticism of the Russian Orthodox Church led to his excommunication in 1901. Hence, this book is often regarded as a cornerstone of ‘Christian Anarchism’, advocating for a faith rooted in individual understanding rather than institutional authority.
The Bible is a key source of inspiration for Tolstoy, who frequently cites it to support his views. Many of the weekly readings in the book emphasize Christianity as an ideal religion. However, Tolstoy’s sharp critique of other intellectual and artistic figures, such as Nietzsche and Darwin, underscores his polarizing style. He laments that valuable works like ‘The Doctrine of the 12 Apostles’ are overshadowed by what he considers trivial pursuits:
“This work [The Doctrine of the 12 Apostles] should be distributed to the public in millions of copies, read in churches. There is nothing like this and never has been… Yet, after the death of a ‘madman’ like Nietzsche or Verlaine, their works are unearthed, printed in hundreds of thousands of copies, and widely distributed. Meanwhile, the words of Jesus, which we claim to preach, are heard but deliberately ignored, lest they interfere with our so-called important pursuits: discovering new planets, debating the origin of species, or studying the properties of radium—endeavors of little true value.“
To summarize, Tolstoy’s ‘A Calendar of Wisdom’ is an intricate exploration of morality, knowledge, and the human condition. It invites readers to reflect deeply on how to live authentically and purposefully, making it a timeless guide to navigating life’s complexities.