The same remark applies to the whole activity of Tolstóy. Whether his attempt at impressing upon men the elements of a universal religion which--he believes--reason trained by science might accept, and which man might take as guidance for his moral life, attaining at the same time towards the solution of the great social problem and all questions connected with it--whether this bold attempt be successful or not, can only be decided by time. But it is absolutely certain that no man since the times of Rousseau has so profoundly stirred the human conscience as Tolstóy has by his moral writings. He has fearlessly stated the moral aspects of all the burning questions of the day, in a form so deeply impressive that whoever has read any one of his writings can no longer forget these questions or set them aside; one feels the necessity of finding, in one way or another, some solution. Tolstóy’s influence, consequently, is not one which may be measured by mere years or decades of years: it will last long. Nor is it limited to one country only. In millions of copies his works are read in all languages, appealing equally to men and women of all classes and all nations, and everywhere producing the same result. Tolstóy is now the most loved man--the most touchingly loved man--in the world. FOOTNOTES: [14] The only exception to be made is the scene with the two old people in _Virgin Soil_. It is useless and out of place. To have introduced it was simply “a literary whim.” [15] Taken from the excellent translation by Mrs. Constance Garnett, in Heinemann’s edition of Turguéneff’s works. [16] This has struck most critics. Thus, speaking of _War and Peace_, Písareff wrote: “The images he has created have their own life, independently of the intentions of the author; they enter into direct relations with the readers, speak for themselves, and unavoidably bring the reader to such thoughts and conclusions as the author never had in view and of which he, perhaps, would not approve.” (_Works, VI._ p. 420.) [17] _Introduction to the Criticism of Dogmatic Theology and to an Analysis of the Christian Teaching_, or _Confession_; Vol. 1 of Tchertkoff’s edition of _Works prohibited by the Russian Censorship_ (in Russian), Christchurch, 1902, p. 13.