Politics is something similar to the lower physiological functions, with the unpleasant difference that political functions are unavoidably carried out in public.

It is quiet here and restful and the air is delicious. There are gardens everywhere and police spies lie in the bushes. There are nightingales in every garden, but police spies only in mine, I think. They sit under my windows in the darkness of the night and try to get a glimpse of how I spread sedition in Russia.

When the life is monotonous , even grief is a welcome event.

Lies are the religion of slaves and masters. Truth is the god of the free man.

Silence is terrible and painful only to those who have said all and have nothing more to speak of; but to those who never had anything to say— to them silence is simple and easy.

Jail doesn't teach anyone to do good, nor Siberia, but a man-yes! A man can teach another man to do good-believe me!

What I'd like is to meet a man I could take off my hat to and say: "Thank you for having got born, and the longer you live the better.