Literature that is not the breath of contemporary society, that dares not transmit the pains and fears of that society . . . loses the confidence of its own people, and its published works are used as wastepaper instead of being read.

One should not ascribe the evil deeds of individual leaders or political regimes to an innate fault of the Russian people and their country.

We always pay dearly for chasing after what is cheap.

When we feel that we are not sufficiently respected, we should ask ourselves whether we are living as we should.

Happiness doesn't depend on the actual number of blessings we manage to scratch from life, only our attitude towards them.

Your friend will argue with you.

To do evil a human being must first of all believe that what he's doing is good.