Murder
The duel with Dolokhov was a horrible affair, as far as Pierre was concerned. Terribly silly, terribly useless. He really had no need to murder Theodore – Pierre saw dueling as nothing more than glorified murder – but it couldn't be helped once he'd challenged the man. But there was no need. He blamed his wife. Yes, it was Helene's fault. She was so beautiful, how could he blame any man for wanting her. But she, she should have never allowed this to happen. So when Helene screamed at him that he'd killed a much better man than himself, something snapped inside.
Mystery
Life was such a mystery to Pierre. There were so many unanswered questions, so many things to deal with and to be resolved. He didn't understand how Anatole, and other friends of his youth, could look at it in such a simplified, materialistic way. Pierre longed to understand life and its mysteries, longed to answer its questions. Perhaps that is why he listened to Andrei in the end and broke with the friends of his early youth – because Andrei made sense, seemed to be searching for the answers to the same questions. So Pierre followed his advice almost unquestioningly. Almost.
Writer
Pierre had to admit to himself that he was no writer. He would have loved to write down all his ideas, theories, thoughts, discoveries and inspirations. But every time he sat down to write it all came out wrong. So how was he supposed to write to Natasha. How was he supposed to tell a girl like her just what he wanted to say, that he loved her. He remembered how scornful she'd been of Andrei's cut-and-dry letters. But there were so many things he wanted to say. She was right for him, he knew. But how to tell her?
Retired
When Pierre married Natasha he knew that they would be living in Petersburg for some time. He knew he wouldn't be able to escape a government position any longer. He didn't mind since the future of the country interested him. But his vision was of later, when he was done with his duties. He and Natasha would move to the country and live in one of his estates with their children. She would be happy too, Pierre knew, since Natasha had lost interest in society since the end of the war and their wedding. All would be perfect and peaceful.
Teacher
The children's new governess was a very pretty woman. She was graceful and elegant and obviously intelligent. Her dignity and confidence were entrancing; Pierre couldn't help but have the utmost respect for her. He also reckoned that feeling attracted to her was only natural. He tried to hide his admiration for her from Natasha, though. Natasha got terribly jealous over the smallest thing – she'd always been like that – and Pierre didn't want her to worry over nothing. He was never going to trade his family for any woman, no matter how lovely. Natasha had no reason to know his weaknesses.