You only have power over people so long as you dont take everything away from them. But when youve robbed a man of everything, hes no longer in your power – hes free again. – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Our government declared that it is conducting some kind of great reforms. In reality, no real reforms were begun and no one at any point has declared a coherent programme. – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Literature transmits incontrovertible condensed experience… from generation to generation. In this way literature becomes the living memory of a nation. – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
I can say without affectation that I belong to the Russian convict world no less than I do to Russian literature. I got my education there, and it will last forever. – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Censorship is saying: Im the one who says the last sentence. Whatever you say, the conclusion is mine. But the internet is like a tree that is growing. The people will always have the last word – even if someone has a very weak, quiet voice. Such power will collapse because of a whisper. – Ai Weiwei