Andrei Bolkonsky

You must not always say what you think.

And what if there were nothing left but to die? Well, if I have to, I will die as bravely as anyone.

Ah, here's an oak.
«Spring. And love. And happiness. Haven't you grown weary of this foolish, senseless illusion? Over and over again, and all sheer illusion. There is no spring, no sun, no happiness. I don't believe in your hopes and illusions».
— It is right, that oak, right a thousand times. Let the young and the naive give themselves over to this fraud. But we know what life is. Our lives are over. I must live out my days without malice, without excitement, without desire.

Yes, but if I had it in my power, I would do one thing. I would take no prisoners. The French destroyed my home and mean to destroy Moscow. They have insulted me and continue to insult me every second. They are my enemies. They are criminals. Timokhin thinks as I do. The whole army too. We must punish them. They plunder and kill our children. How can we talk about rules of war and mercy? We must take no prisoners, but kill and be prepared to die. War is not about decency. It is the lowest thing men stoop to. One must realize this and not make a game out of war. War is a dreadful necessity. Cast off the lies and see war as war. It is no game.

— Success does not depend on positions or weapons nor even the number of men.
— Then on what?
— It depends on the feeling within me, within him, within every soldier. Why did we lose at Austerlitz? Positions? Nonsense. That's not the point. We had no right to be there. We were in a hurry to leave the battlefield. What will happen to us tomorrow? To me, tomorrow will be simple. 100,000 Russian soldiers and 100,000 French soldiers will meet in combat. Those 200,000 are going to fight. The side that is fiercest and spares itself least is the side that will win. Tomorrow, whatever the circumstances, we are certain to win.