There is something predetermined in the mutual attraction between Germany and Russia. Otherwise, this attraction would not have survived two ghastly World Wars.

Too much art was no art at all. Like candy instead of bread!

Periods of rapid and fundamental change were never favourable for literature. Significant works, have nearly always and everywhere been created in periods of stability, be it good or bad.

Anything too far out of tune with our attitude is lost, either in the ears themselves or somewhere beyond, but it is lost.

Who will dare say he has defined art?

Bless you prison, bless you for being in my life. For there, lying upon the rotting prison straw, I came to realize that the object of life is not prosperity as we are made to believe, but the maturity of the human soul.

Yes, you live with your feet in the mud and there's no time to be thinking about how you got in or how you're going to get out.