 Theoretically, the shared experience of common labor would break down class distinctions. Addams had experienced such camaraderie at Hull House, and she never stopped appreciating Tolstoy’s social criticism. However, she saw the value of intelligent leadership. Someone had to organize the clubs, arrange for philanthropic support, and chair the meetings. Addams found Tolstoy’s labor demand to be self-indulgent to a certain extent. If she engaged in the labor of the poor exclusively, she might alleviate her upper-class guilt. Still, she would no longer be working holistically toward changing the structure of society. Addams’ philosophy of civic activism valued engagement through ongoing presence and listening. Indeed, Hull House had a very flat and responsive organizational structure. Nevertheless, Tolstoy’s absolutist moral demands failed to consider context—a hallmark of Addams’ approach.