How we cite our quotes: (Volume.Part.Chapter.Paragraph). We used Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky's translation.
Quote #10
After seven years of marriage Pierre had the joyous and firm consciousness that he was not a bad man, and he felt this because he saw himself reflected in his wife. He felt the good and bad within himself inextricably mingled and overlapping. But only what was really good in him was reflected in his wife, all that was not quite good was rejected. And this was not the result of logical reasoning but was a direct and mysterious reflection. (Epilogue.1.10.21)
Pierre has reached the height of successful masculinity as defined by the book – the creation of a new family and the participation in its life. Tolstoy rejects the go-to standards that defined other versions of manhood: warmongering and public life.