CHAPTER 24
Andrew reflects on the upcoming war. He thinks of his own death and of all the things he loved: women, his dead father, and the fatherland. He thinks that he is sure to die in battle the next day.
Important Quotes
Andrew: "for the first time in his life the possibility of death presented
itself to him—not in relation to any worldly matter or with
reference to its effect on others, but simply in relation to himself, to
his own soul—vividly, plainly, terribly, and almost as a certainty."
Andrew: "To die... to be
killed tomorrow... That I should not exist... That all this should still
be, but no me...."
CHAPTER 25
Andrew talks to Pierre and some others about the war. Later, he keeps telling Pierre that he hates the French and that none of them should be taken captive--they should all be killed. He thinks of Natasha before bedtime and remembers the story of how she got lost in the forest. He feels that he is unlovable, but claims that that is his fate. Pierre feels that this will be the last time he sees Andrew.
Important Quotes
Andrew: "Success never depends, and never will depend, on
position, or equipment, or even on numbers, and least of all on position."
Pierre: "But on what then?"
Andrew: "On the feeling that is in me and in him," he pointed to Timokhin, "and in
each soldier."
Andrew: "The French have destroyed my home and are on
their way to destroy Moscow, they have outraged and are outraging me every
moment. They are my enemies. In my opinion they are all criminals. And so
thinks Timokhin and the whole army. They should be executed!"
Andrew: "I not
only understood her, but it was just that inner, spiritual force, that
sincerity, that frankness of soul—that very soul of hers which
seemed to be fettered by her body—it was that soul I loved in her...
loved so strongly and happily..." and suddenly he remembered how his love
had ended. "He did not need anything of that kind."
CHAPTER 26
The men prepare Napoleon for battle. They bring him a surprise, a portrait of his son, "the King of Rome." Napoleon gets ready to take over Moscow.
Important Quotes
Napoleon: "No prisoners!" said he, repeating the aide-de-camp's words. "They are
forcing us to exterminate them. So much the worse for the Russian army"
CHAPTER 27
Napoleon sends each general orders on how to proceed in the war. However, none of his plans are able to come to fruition and Napoleon is too far away from the war scene to give new orders.
CHAPTER 28
The French loss at Borodino was not blamed on Napoleon, but on all the minute details that may have hindered him in any way. For example, some historians attribute the loss to the cold he had that day, which they said hindered the war effort. Everything is interrelated and people act on their own free will, according to certain people.
Important Quotes
"Many historians say that the French did not win the battle of Borodino
because Napoleon had a cold, and that if he had not had a cold the orders
he gave before and during the battle would have been still more full of
genius and Russia would have been lost and the face of the world have been
changed."
"To the question of what causes historic
events another answer presents itself, namely, that the course of human
events is predetermined from on high—depends on the coincidence of
the wills of all who take part in the events, and that a Napoleon's
influence on the course of these events is purely external and fictitious."
"At the battle of Borodino Napoleon shot at no one and killed no one. That
was all done by the soldiers. Therefore it was not he who killed people. The French soldiers went to kill and be killed at the battle of Borodino
not because of Napoleon's orders but by their own volition."
CHAPTER 29
Napoleon continues to prepare for the war. He has a cold and mentions that the human body is merely a machine for living.
Important Quotes
Napoleon: " Yes, our body is just a machine for living, that is all."
CHAPTER 30
Pierre watches the beginnings of battle unfold. He follows the general down to the crossing on horseback, not really knowing what to do or how to ride.
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