Literature transmits incontrovertible condensed experience... from generation to generation. In this way literature becomes the living memory of a nation.

The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie. "One word of truth outweighs the world.

It's an universal law-- intolerance is the first sign of an inadequate education. An ill-educated person behaves with arrogant impatience, whereas truly profound education breeds humility.

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.

Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.

Violence can only be concealed by a lie, and the lie can only be maintained by violence.

The generation now coming out of Western schools is unable to distinguish good from bad. Even those words are unacceptable. This results in impaired thinking ability.

To destroy a people, you must first sever their roots.

That which is called humanism, but what would be more correctly called irreligious anthropocentrism, cannot yield answers to the most essential questions of our life

Hastiness and superficiality are the psychic diseases of the 20th century, and more than anywhere else this disease is reflected in the press.

If we look far into the future, one can see a time in the 21st century when both Europe and the USA will be in dire need of Russia as an ally.

It's much easier on the emotions when one sees life as an experiment rather than a struggle for popularity.

The sky is not the limit

You might say “no, you will never do that, that’s not you, not who I know, not who I thought you were”, and I will say "watch me".

Why is it that we so easily confide secrets to strangers that we so carefully hide from ourselves?

Sportsmanship is definitely an important thing in all sports. In soccer, we all respect each other on such a high level, between Sweden and Brazil and Japan or whatever team it is.

There is something mean in human nature that prefers to think evil, that gives a willing ear and a ready welcome to calumny, a sort of jealousy of goodness and greatness and things of good report.

It feels really sad, to me, to go to a dark bedroom. It's like surrendering to the night or something.

From all that dims Thy Calvary, O Lamb of God, deliver me.

I discovered that a diplomat's life is largely entertaining and meeting people. At the end of the day there's nothing. So I gave up.

Pets are always a great help in times of stress. And in times of starvation too, o'course.