Pierre’s time in prison had changed him in subtle but important ways. He was different. He cared more for other people now. People like to be around him much more than before. His judgement in money matters is much better.
Pierre’s time in prison had changed him in subtle but important ways. He was different. He cared more for other people now. People like to be around him much more than before. His judgement in money matters is much better.
Book 15, Chapter 13
Pierre’s time in prison had changed him in subtle but important ways. He was different. He cared more for other people now. People like to be around him much more than before. His judgement in money matters is much better.
Summary:
In external ways Pierre seemed much the same. His appearance was little changed. But his time in the prison had somehow changed him in subtle but important ways. Now a smile at the joy of life always played round his lips, and sympathy for others shone in his eyes. Previously he had talked a great deal, grew excited when he talked, and seldom listened; now he was rarely carried away in conversation and knew how to listen so that people readily told him their most intimate secrets. He took an interest in the people around and, but did not try to change them. People appreciated this and wanted to spend time with him. They became fond of him and enjoyed speaking with him. In practical matters Pierre unexpectedly felt within himself a center of gravity he had previously lacked. And whereas formerly all pecuniary questions, such as requests for gifts of money, produced in him a state of hopeless agitation and perplexity. To give or not to give? he had asked himself. Now to his surprise he found that he no longer felt either doubt or perplexity about these questions. There was now within him a judge who by some rule unknown to him decided what should or should not be done.
quote from the chapter:
There was a new feature in Pierre’s relations with Willarski, with the princess, with the doctor, and with all the people he now met, which gained for him the general good will. This was his acknowledgment of the impossibility of changing a man’s convictions by words, and his recognition of the possibility of everyone thinking, feeling, and seeing things each from his own point of view. This legitimate peculiarity of each individual which used to excite and irritate Pierre now became a basis of the sympathy he felt for, and the interest he took in, other people. The difference, and sometimes complete contradiction, between men’s opinions and their lives, and between one man and another, pleased him and drew from him an amused and gentle smile.
In practical matters Pierre unexpectedly felt within himself a center of gravity he had previously lacked. Formerly all pecuniary questions, especially requests for money to which, as an extremely wealthy man, he was very exposed, produced in him a state of hopeless agitation and perplexity. To give or not to give? he had asked himself. I have it and he needs it. But someone else needs it still more. Who needs it most? And perhaps they are both impostors? In the old days he had been unable to find a way out of all these surmises and had given to all who asked as long as he had anything to give. Formerly he had been in a similar state of perplexity with regard to every question concerning his property, when one person advised one thing and another something else.
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