The concept of "tolerance" is currently heard very often and everywhere, and it seems that this principle has appeared in modern society. In fact, the nature of tolerant consciousness is contained in the ethics of religions and philosophical teachings of the whole world. Although systematic philosophical study of tolerance did not begin until the late 18th century, its origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations. The religious, political, and ethical teachings of that time contained the seeds of modern ideas about tolerance. It was these early reflections on differences and their acceptance that formed the basis for the critical view of tolerance that we see today in politics, ethics, and everyday communication. The article reveals the historical origin and essence of the concept of tolerance of different times and teachings. At different times and among different peoples, the origins of traditional knowledge about man and society were reflected. In the history of the accumulation of this knowledge, the essence of understanding tolerance can be traced, calling for caution, delicacy, tact, but a comprehensive analysis of tolerance in world literature allows us to conclude that it is a rather complex phenomenon with a number of indicators.