I dedicate this to all those who did not live to tell it. And may they please forgive me for not having seen it all nor remembered it all, for not having divined all of it - from The Gulag Archipelago

The simple act of an ordinary courageous man is not to take part, not to support lies! Let that come into the world and even reign over it, but not through me. Writers and artists can do more: they can vanquish lies! ... Lies can stand up against much in the world, but not against art.

I leaf through the ancient philosophers and find my newest discoveries there.

It was wrong to be too pragmatic, to judge people solely by results; it was more humane to judge by intentions.

If you wanted to put the world to rights, who should you begin with: yourself or others?

Not everything has a name. Some things lead us into a realm beyond words…By means of art were are sometimes sent - dimly, briefly - revelations unattainable by reason.

You took my freedom away a long time ago and you can't give it back because you haven't got it yourself.