War and Peace Volume 2 Book 6 Chapter 1

In which Prince Andrew devotes himself to the practical management and gradual reform of his estates with a quiet persistence that contrasts with others’ restless ambitions, embodying a serene acceptance of his place in the world. As he journeys through the awakening spring landscape, his contemplative mood is stirred by the sight of a gnarled old oak tree, a steadfast symbol of life’s enduring hardships and the sobering truth of matured experience.