Summary
Chapter 163
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
During the children's tea, everyone sits on the balcony "and talked as though nothing had happened," though they all—especially Sergey and Varenka—know "there had happened an event which, though negative, was of very great importance." They feel "rather like that of a schoolboy after an examination, which has left him in the same class or shut him out of the school forever." Everyone talks eagerly about unrelated subjects. Levin and Kitty are "particularly happy and conscious of their love that evening." But their happiness "seemed to imply a disagreeable slur on those who would have liked to feel the same and could not—and they felt a prick of conscience." The princess suddenly has "an unexpected quiver" in her voice talking about the old prince. Her daughters don't know that despite being useful and happy here, she's been "extremely miserable" since marrying off "their last and favorite daughter, and the old home had been left empty." Levin jumps up to teach Grisha his Latin lesson. Varenka offers to arrange supper. Sergey comments that the two sons-in-law are completely unlike: Stiva living in society "like a fish in water," Kostya either sinking "into apathy, or struggles helplessly like a fish on land" when in society. Then they hear horses and wheels. "It's Stiva!" Levin shouts, running like a boy to meet the carriage. But Levin's mistaken—beside Stepan Arkadyevitch isn't the old prince but "a handsome, stout young man in a Scotch cap, with long ends of ribbon behind. This was Vassenka Veslovsky," a distant cousin of the Shtcherbatskys, "a brilliant young gentleman in Petersburg and Moscow society." Levin is "rather vexed at the non-arrival of the old prince" and "at the arrival of this Vassenka Veslovsky, a quite uncongenial and superfluous person." His vexation increases when he sees Veslovsky "with a particularly warm and gallant air, kissing Kitty's hand." "Your wife and I are cousins and very old friends," Veslovsky says. Levin, who moments before "had been in the happiest frame of mind, now looked darkly at everyone, and everything displeased him." He thinks bitterly about Stiva kissing Dolly: "Who was it he kissed yesterday with those lips?" He finds Varenka's "_sainte nitouche_" air hateful. Most unpleasant is Kitty's "particular smile" responding to Veslovsky's smile. As everyone goes inside, Levin turns and walks out. Kitty sees something's wrong, tries to speak to him, but "he made haste to get away from her, saying he was wanted at the counting-house."
Coming Up in Chapter 164
Levin's jealousy over Veslovsky will simmer and grow. Can secure love survive irrational suspicion?
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
uring the time of the children’s tea the grown-up people sat in the balcony and talked as though nothing had happened, though they all, especially Sergey Ivanovitch and Varenka, were very well aware that there had happened an event which, though negative, was of very great importance. They both had the same feeling, rather like that of a schoolboy after an examination, which has left him in the same class or shut him out of the school forever. Everyone present, feeling too that something had happened, talked eagerly about extraneous subjects. Levin and Kitty were particularly happy and conscious of their love that evening. And their happiness in their love seemed to imply a disagreeable slur on those who would have liked to feel the same and could not—and they felt a prick of conscience. “Mark my words, Alexander will not come,” said the old princess. That evening they were expecting Stepan Arkadyevitch to come down by train, and the old prince had written that possibly he might come too. “And I know why,” the princess went on; “he says that young people ought to be left alone for a while at first.” “But papa has left us alone. We’ve never seen him,” said Kitty. “Besides, we’re not young people!—we’re old, married people by now.” “Only if he doesn’t come, I shall say good-bye to you children,” said the princess, sighing mournfully. “What nonsense, mamma!” both the daughters fell upon her at once. “How do you suppose he is feeling? Why, now....” And suddenly there was an unexpected quiver in the princess’s voice. Her daughters were silent, and looked at one another. “Maman always finds something to be miserable about,” they said in that glance. They did not know that happy as the princess was in her daughter’s house, and useful as she felt herself to be there, she had been extremely miserable, both on her own account and her husband’s, ever since they had married their last and favorite daughter, and the old home had been left empty. “What is it, Agafea Mihalovna?” Kitty asked suddenly of Agafea Mihalovna, who was standing with a mysterious air, and a face full of meaning. “About supper.” “Well, that’s right,” said Dolly; “you go and arrange about it, and I’ll go and hear Grisha repeat his lesson, or else he will have nothing done all day.” “That’s my lesson! No, Dolly, I’m going,” said Levin, jumping up. Grisha, who was by now at a high school, had to go over the lessons of the term in the summer holidays. Darya Alexandrovna, who had been studying Latin with her son in Moscow before, had made it a rule on coming to the Levins’ to go over with him, at least once a day, the most difficult lessons of Latin and arithmetic. Levin had offered to take her place, but the mother, having once overheard Levin’s lesson, and noticing that it was not given exactly as the teacher in Moscow had given it, said...
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Overthinking's End
The more we think about finding meaning, the further we get from actually living meaningfully.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when thinking becomes counterproductive and how to use physical engagement to reset your mental state.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you catch yourself in repetitive worry cycles, then find a physical task that requires your full attention - cooking, cleaning, gardening, helping someone move.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Though negative, of very great importance
The failed proposal is an 'event which, though negative, was of very great importance.' Non-events can be as significant as events. What didn't happen matters as much as what did. The absence leaving a presence.
Modern Usage:
Not getting a job offer that changes your career trajectory, or someone not texting back defining the relationship's future.
A prick of conscience
Levin and Kitty's happiness 'seemed to imply a disagreeable slur on those who would have liked to feel the same and could not—and they felt a prick of conscience.' Guilt about your joy in front of others' pain. Love making you embarrassed rather than triumphant.
Modern Usage:
Feeling bad about your relationship success around single friends, or your job excitement around unemployed people.
Uncongenial and superfluous
Levin finds Veslovsky 'a quite uncongenial and superfluous person.' The instant dislike of someone who threatens your comfort. They've done nothing wrong but their presence feels wrong. Hostility disguised as social assessment.
Modern Usage:
Instantly disliking your partner's attractive coworker, or resenting a friend's new boyfriend who takes their attention.
Sainte nitouche
Levin finds even Varenka hateful with her '_sainte nitouche_' air (French: falsely innocent, butter-wouldn't-melt). When irritated, you reinterpret everyone's virtue as performance. Projecting insincerity onto innocent people because you're in a dark mood.
Modern Usage:
Seeing everyone as fake when you're in a bad mood, or finding your friend's kindness annoying when you're jealous.
Characters in This Chapter
Levin
Protagonist
Levin abandons his usual intellectual approach and throws himself into physical harvest work. He discovers that manual labor quiets his anxious mind and provides the sense of purpose and belonging he's been seeking through philosophy.
Modern Equivalent:
The overthinking executive who finds peace volunteering at a food bank
The peasant workers
Mentors/teachers
The experienced mowers accept Levin into their group and teach him through example rather than words. Their practical wisdom and acceptance challenge his assumptions about education and class.
Modern Equivalent:
The seasoned crew who show the new guy the ropes without making him feel stupid
Key Quotes & Analysis
"The longer Levin mowed, the more often he felt those moments of unconsciousness in which it seemed not his hands that swung the scythe, but the scythe mowing of itself."
Context: Levin has been working for hours and finds his rhythm
This describes the flow state that comes from physical work - when you stop thinking and just become one with the activity. Levin's mind finally quiets because his body is fully engaged.
In Today's Words:
He got so into the work that his hands just moved on their own, like he was in the zone.
"He felt himself, and did not want to be anyone else anywhere else."
Context: Levin realizes he's found contentment in the simple work
This is the opposite of his usual restless searching and questioning. For the first time, Levin is present and satisfied with exactly where he is and what he's doing.
In Today's Words:
For once, he wasn't wishing he was somewhere else being someone else.
"The old peasant who had been urging him on was now mowing beside him, and they moved together in the same rhythm."
Context: Levin has been accepted into the group of workers
This shows how shared work creates genuine connection across class lines. The peasant's acceptance comes not from Levin's status but from his willingness to work hard alongside them.
In Today's Words:
The old guy who'd been pushing him was now working right next to him, and they were totally in sync.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Levin discovers the peasants possess practical wisdom his education lacks, challenging his assumptions about intelligence and social hierarchy
Development
Evolving from earlier chapters where Levin felt superior; now recognizing different forms of knowledge
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself dismissing someone's advice because of their job title or education level, missing valuable insights.
Identity
In This Chapter
Levin finds his true self not in intellectual pursuits but in physical labor and community connection
Development
Building on his ongoing struggle to define himself beyond social expectations
In Your Life:
You might discover who you really are comes through what you do, not what you think about yourself.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Growth comes through action and embodied experience rather than philosophical contemplation
Development
Represents a major shift from Levin's previous approach to self-improvement
In Your Life:
You might realize your breakthrough comes from trying something new rather than analyzing your problems endlessly.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Working alongside the peasants creates authentic connection based on shared purpose rather than social position
Development
Contrasts with his struggles in romantic and social relationships throughout the novel
In Your Life:
You might find deeper connections through shared activities than through trying to impress people with conversation.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Levin abandons the expectation that a nobleman should find meaning through intellectual pursuits
Development
Continues his rejection of aristocratic norms established in earlier chapters
In Your Life:
You might need to ignore what others expect from someone in your position to find what actually fulfills you.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What changes in Levin when he starts working with his hands instead of just thinking about his problems?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does physical work quiet Levin's mind in a way that reading philosophy books couldn't?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today getting stuck in overthinking instead of taking action to solve their problems?
application • medium - 4
When you're spiraling in your own thoughts about a problem, what kind of hands-on activity might break that cycle for you?
application • deep - 5
What does Levin's experience suggest about the relationship between thinking and doing when it comes to finding purpose?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Break Your Own Overthinking Loop
Think of something you've been overthinking lately - a relationship issue, career decision, or personal problem. Write down the thoughts that keep cycling through your head. Then identify three physical, hands-on activities you could do this week that would require your full attention and connect you with other people. Pick one and commit to trying it within 48 hours.
Consider:
- •The activity should require enough focus that you can't multitask or keep thinking about your problem
- •Look for opportunities to work alongside others rather than solo activities
- •Simple, repetitive tasks often work better than complex ones for breaking thought loops
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you solved a problem by doing something instead of thinking about it. What did that teach you about how your mind works?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 164
Levin's jealousy over Veslovsky will simmer and grow. Can secure love survive irrational suspicion?
