It is unthinkable in the twentieth century to fail to distinguish between what constitutes an abominable atrocity that must be prosecuted and what constitutes that "past" which "ought not to be stirred up.

Unlimited power in the hands of limited people always leads to cruelty.

Lord, give me the strength to accomplish what You've given me to do and the faith to trust You that what I haven't been able to accomplish You've already assigned to someone else.

For a country to have a great writer is like having a second government. That is why no regime has ever loved great writers, only minor ones.

One should not ascribe the evil deeds of individual leaders or political regimes to an innate fault of the Russian people and their country.

It is in the nature of the human being to seek a justification for his actions.

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.