Bless you, prison, for having been in my life!

A great number of publications and movies on the history of the 20th century - albeit of uneven quality - are evidence of a growing demand. Quite recently, the state-owned TV channel 'Russia' aired a series based on Varlam Shalamov's works, showing the terrible, cruel truth about Stalin's camps. It was not watered down.

When one is already on the edge of the grave, why not resist?

Any man who has once acclaimed violence as his method must inexorably choose falsehood as his principle.

Just as King Midas turned everything to gold, Stalin turned everything to mediocrity.

Everything you add to the truth subtracts from the truth.

I will tell you something else: it is a major responsibility not only of portraiture but of all human communication for each of us to help everyone else discover the best that is in him.