Quote by Leo Tolstoy
The acquisition by dishonest means and cunning,' said Levin, feeling that he was incapable of clearly defining the borderline between honesty and dishonesty. 'Like the profits made by banks,' he went on. 'This is evil, I mean, the acquisition of enormous fortunes without work, as it used to be with the spirit monopolists. Only the form has changed. Hardly were the monopolies abolished before railways and banks appeared: just another way of making money without work.
Summary
In this quote, Levin expresses his struggle in distinguishing between what he considers to be honest and dishonest means of acquiring wealth. He criticizes the unethical practice of obtaining enormous fortunes through manipulation and cunning, comparing it to the past spirit monopolists who amassed wealth without significant effort. Levin further highlights that while the form may have changed with the abolishment of monopolies, new methods such as railways and banks have emerged to continue the trend of making money without truly working for it. Overall, the quote highlights Levin's disdain for the acquisition of wealth through dishonest and effortless means.
By Leo Tolstoy
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