Men, with and without wings

There are worldly people, heavy and wingless. Their sphere is down below. There are among them strong ones : Napoleon.They leave terrible traces among men, and cause an uproar, but it is all on the earth. There are those whose wings grow equably, and who slowly rise and fly : monks. There are light people, winged, who rise easily from among the crowd and again descend : good idealists. There are strong-winged ones, who, drawn by carnal desires, descend among the crowd and

break their wings. Such am I. Then they struggle with broken wings, flutter strongly, and fall. If my wings heal, I will fly high. God grant it. ...

There are those who have heavenly wings, and purposely from love to men descend to earth (folding their wings) and teach men to fly. When they are no more needed, they fly away : Christ.

Tolstoy ( an entry in his diary)