Война и мир

Chapter 1

           

           Itneedsnocriticalexertiontoreduceutterlytodustanydeductionsdrawnfromhistory.Itismerelynecessarytoselectsomelargerorsmallerunitasthesubjectofobservation—ascriticismhaseveryrighttodo,seeingthatwhateverunithistoryobservesmustalwaysbearbitrarilyselected.

           Onlybytakinginfinitesimallysmallunitsforobservation(thedifferentialofhistory,thatis,theindividualtendenciesofmen)andattainingtotheartofintegratingthem(thatis,findingthesumoftheseinfinitesimals)canwehopetoarriveatthelawsofhistory.

           ThefirstfifteenyearsofthenineteenthcenturyinEuropepresentanextraordinarymovementofmillionsofpeople.Menleavetheircustomarypursuits,hastenfromonesideofEuropetotheother,plunderandslaughteroneanother,triumphandareplungedindespair,andforsomeyearsthewholecourseoflifeisalteredandpresentsanintensivemovementwhichfirstincreasesandthenslackens.Whatwasthecauseofthismovement,bywhatlawswasitgoverned?asksthemindofman.

           Thehistorians,replyingtothisquestion,laybeforeusthesayingsanddoingsofafewdozenmeninabuildinginthecityofParis,callingthesesayingsanddoings“theRevolution”;thentheygiveadetailedbiographyofNapoleonandofcertainpeoplefavorableorhostiletohim;telloftheinfluencesomeofthesepeoplehadonothers,andsay:thatiswhythismovementtookplaceandthoseareitslaws.

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