Work was like a stick. It had two ends. When you worked for the knowing you gave them quality; when you worked for a fool you simply gave him eyewash.

The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?

The one good thing about repeating your mistakes is that you know when to cringe

Prayers are like those appeals of ours. Either they don't get through or they're returned with 'rejected' scrawled across 'em.

Surrender one hair, and you'll end up beardless.

Shall I describe the happiness it gave me to go into the classroom and pick up the chalk? ... It seemed to me the supreme, heartbreaking happiness to enter a classroom carrying a register as that bell rang, and start a lesson with the mysterious air of one about to unfold wonders.

I dare hope that all the peoples who have lived through communism will understand that communism is to blame for the bitter pages of their history.