The timid civilized world has found nothing with which to oppose the onslaught of a sudden revival of barefaced barbarity, other than concessions and smiles.

To his and everybody else's way of thinking, you should build a house with your own hands before you start talking about being an engineer.

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.

I think the gap between rich and poor is an extremely dangerous phenomenon and needs the immediate attention of the state.

There can be no acceptable future without an honest analysis of the past.

Art thaws even the frozen, darkened soul, opening it to lofty spiritual experience.

... any country that is not careful can be seized.