Wise Words

“Yes, at first it will not be fair. Someone will have to temporarily lose his job. For

the young who seek to live by truth, this will at first severely complicate life, for

their tests and quizzes, too, are stuffed with lies, and so choices will have to be

made. But there is no loophole left for anyone who seeks to be honest: Not even

for a day, not even in the safest technical occupations can he avoid even a

single one of the listed choices—to be made in favor of either truth or lies, in

favor of spiritual independence or spiritual servility. And as for him who lacks the

courage to defend even his own soul: Let him not brag of his progressive views,

boast of his status as an academician or a recognized artist, a distinguished

citizen or general. Let him say to himself plainly: I am cattle, I am a coward, I

seek only warmth and to eat my fill.”

-Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn