At the end of the 19th century, many intellectuals and writers took a stand for animal rights, seeing in their treatment a reflection of society’s values of justice and peace. Leo Tolstoy was among these thinkers and addressed this issue in his essay The First Step, published in 1892.

In this text, Tolstoy explores the themes of abstinence and moral ethics. He vividly describes the brutality of slaughterhouses and extends this reflection to human violence as a whole. According to him, cruelty towards animals is intrinsically linked to violence among humans. He advocates vegetarianism as a protest against all forms of brutality and domination. For Tolstoy, giving up meat consumption is a crucial step in fostering compassion and promoting a more just and peaceful society.

This text was read in English by Yann Zombeck.

Photo : Leo Tolstoy in his office, in 1908, a picture taken by Sergei Mikhailovich, courtesy of Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.