Mistakes are a great educator when one is honest enough to admit them and willing to learn from them

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.

Whenever the tissue of life is woven of legalistic relationships, this creates an atmosphere of spiritual mediocrity that paralyzes a person's noblest impulses.

Of course, my views developed in the course of time. But I have always believed in what I did and never acted against my conscience.

To taste the sea all one needs is one gulp.

A great writer is, so to speak, a secret government in his country

...skepticism can never provide firm ground under a man's feet. And perhaps, after all, we need firm ground.