What makes men go out of their minds; what makes men shoot themselves?
 Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (1877). copy citation

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Author Leo Tolstoy
Source Anna Karenina
Topic mind
Date 1877
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by Constance Garnett
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1399/1399-h/1399-h.htm

Context

“He listened, and heard in a strange, mad whisper words repeated: “I did not appreciate it, did not make enough of it. I did not appreciate it, did not make enough of it.” “What’s this? Am I going out of my mind?” he said to himself. “Perhaps. What makes men go out of their minds; what makes men shoot themselves?” he answered himself, and opening his eyes, he saw with wonder an embroidered cushion beside him, worked by Varya, his brother’s wife. He touched the tassel of the cushion, and tried to think of Varya, of when he had seen her last.” source