Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn · Skopia

Quotes

6

Political literature · Historical literature

If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

The Gulag Archipelago · 1973

★ 6.0

Speech · Commencement address

A society based on the letter of the law and never reaching any higher fails to take advantage of the full range of human possibilities. The letter of the law is too cold and formal to have a beneficial influence on society. Whenever the tissue of life is woven of legalistic relationships, this creates an atmosphere of spiritual mediocrity that paralyzes man’s noblest impulses.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

1978

★ 6.0

Novel · Political literature

In our village, folk say God crumbles up the old moon into stars.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich · 1962

★ 4.5

There was peace in their hearts. They were filled with the fearlessness of those who have lost everything, the fearlessness which is not easy to come by but which endures.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

In the First Circle · 1968

★ 4.3

All 6 in quotes →

Books

2

The Gulag Archipelago

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

1973★ 8.9

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

1962★ 7.9