We often think that by removing all the difficulties of our life we shall more quickly reach our aim, but on the contrary, my dear sir, it is only in the midst of worldly cares that we can attain our three chief aims: (1) self-knowledge – for man can only know himself by comparison, (2) self-perfecting, which can only be attained by conflict, and (3) the attainment of the chief virtue – love of death. Only the vicissitudes of life can show us its vanity, and develop our innate love of death or of rebirth to a new life.
(war & peace)
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