You can resolve to live your life with integrity. Let your credo be this: Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn More Quotes by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn More Quotes From Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn A great writer is, so to speak, a secret government in his country Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn government secret country Why can't you understand? The stars fall down now and then. The gaps have to be filled. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn gaps stars fall The one who doesn't pull his weight is not asked to pull, while the one who does, pulls for two. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn doe work two ...it's only on a black day that you begin to have friends. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn black-day black I refuse to see literature as amusement, as a game. I think that you ought not to approach literature without a moral responsibility for every word you write. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn responsibility writing thinking One should not ascribe the evil deeds of individual leaders or political regimes to an innate fault of the Russian people and their country. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn evil country people I was always optimistic. And I held to and was guided by my views. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn optimistic views I have always had that inner drive, since my birth. And I have always devoted myself gladly to work - to work and to the struggle. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn devoted birth struggle When I was young, the early death of my father cast a shadow over me - and I was afraid to die before all my literary plans came true. But between 30 and 40 years of age my attitude to death became quite calm and balanced. I feel it is a natural, but no means the final, milestone of one's existence. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn attitude mean father For me faith is the foundation and support of one's life. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn foundation support We should clearly understand that only the voluntary and conscientious acceptance by a people of its guilt can ensure the healing of a nation. Unremitting reproaches from outside are counterproductive. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn acceptance healing people Too much art was no art at all. Like candy instead of bread! Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn too-much bread art Art thaws even the frozen, darkened soul, opening it to lofty spiritual experience. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn soul spiritual art In our age, when technology is gaining control over life, when material well-being is considered the most important goal, when the influence of religion has been weakened everywhere in the world, a special responsibility lies upon the writer. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn responsibility writing lying The Communists have for decades loudly proclaimed their goal of destroying the bourgeois world, while the West merely smiled at what seemed to be an extravagant joke. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn goal war world Gorbachev's administration was amazingly politically naïve, inexperienced and irresponsible towards the country. It was not governance but a thoughtless renunciation of power. The admiration of the West in return only strengthened his conviction that his approach was right. But let us be clear that it was Mikhail Gorbachev, and not Boris Yeltsin, as is now widely being claimed, who first gave freedom of speech and movement to the citizens of Russia. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn admiration freedom-of-speech country 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. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn heartbreaking teaching air People can live through hardship, but from hard feelings they perish. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn hardship feelings people But what can you say in a letter? Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn letters I insist on believing that beauty elevates human beings. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn humans beauty believe
