When it is impossible to stretch the very elastic threads of historical ratiocination any farther, when actions are clearly contrary to all that humanity calls right or even just, the historians produce a saving conception of 'greatness.' 'Greatness,' it seems, excludes the standards of right and wrong. For the 'great' man nothing is wrong, there is no atrocity for which a 'great' man can be blamed.

Smiling with pleasure, they went through their memories, not sad, old people's memories, but poetic, youthful ones, those impressions from the very distant past where dream merges with reality, and they laughed softly, rejoicing at something.

Power is a word the meaning of which we do not understand.

Enough or not...it will have to do

Art can compel people freely, gladly, and spontaneously to sacrifice themselves in the service of man.

Man's mind cannot grasp the causes of events in their completeness, but the desire to find the causes is implanted in man's soul.

History would be a wonderful thing – if it were only true.