I remember Tolstoy having a habit of avoiding any arguments. He liked taking notice of what others were saying and then perplex them with sharp retorts. But he avoided arguments, even though you could tell what he was thinking by his manner of listening. His face was very expressive; he couldn't hide his emotions.
Many people wouldn't dare stirring up arguments, knowing very well how Tolstoy would react. Usually, Countess Sofia Andreevna would come to the rescue, changing the topic to an everyday, general one.
I never thought that Tolstoy would the central figure that illuminated my past. Memories of my meetings with him crop up more and more often in my mind. These memories are the yardstick by which I measure my conscientiousness and attitude to the surrounding environment. What would L.N. think of such and such an event? L.N helps me from beyond the grave.
This whole "Republic" thing is some sort of a blunder. Kerensky has proclaimed it and seemingly choked on it.
Strictly speaking, it's not a revolution. Everyone's so tired that they have happily embraced everything new, everything that promised not going back to the past. Everyone immediately agreed to everything. If not for this unanimity of the people, army, society, would Russia have acknowledged the Provisional Government in three days?