A Talk With A Wayfarer by Leo Tolstoy. Short summary

5 seconds

Л. Tolstoy saw a man smoking a pipe. He began to persuade him to quit smoking and think about his soul. The man became serious, and the author went on in a benign mood.

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The author was walking in the early morning and rejoiced at the beauty around him. He saw a man waiting for someone. The peasant was smoking a pipe.

The author said hello to him and, pointing to his pipe, asked him how much money a year was spent on tobacco. The man said it was a lot, it would cost him a fortune. So why not quit? — the author asked. The man replied that the habit was to blame. The author remarked that he also had a habit, but he was stronger.

The author also said that young people would follow his example if they looked at him when he smoked. The man agreed. But he said he smoked out of boredom. Then the author said that if you can’t occupy your hands and mind with work, you should think about your soul.

The man looked at him strangely and his face became serious. «That’s right-the soul must be thought of!» — he said. And the author, barely holding back tears of tenderness, went on his way. He considered that one should expect all the most joyful things from such people.