Boris Yeltsin's period was characterized by a no less irresponsible attitude to people's lives, but in other ways. In his haste to have private rather than state ownership as quickly as possible, Yeltsin started a mass, multi-billion-dollar fire sale of the national patrimony. Wanting to gain the support of regional leaders, Yeltsin called directly for separatism and passed laws that encouraged and empowered the collapse of the Russian state. This deprived Russia of its historical role for which it had worked so hard, and lowered its standing in the international community.

The belly is an ungrateful wretch, it never remembers past favors, it always wants more tomorrow.

On our crowded planet there are no longer any internal affairs!

... but it is human to be outraged by injustice, even to the point of courting destruction!

The battleline between good and evil runs through the heart of every man.

It is a brave man who is the first to sit down during a standing ovation.

Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either - but right through every human heart...