Vasily Grossman Quotes
1905–1964 Russia
Vasily Semyonovich Grossman (December 12, 1905 – September 14, 1964) was a prominent Soviet-era writer and journalist.
- Russia
- Journalists
- Novelists
- Short story writers
- Socialists
Also known as: Life and Fate
Random Vasily Grossman quote
11 quotes
National Socialism had created a new type of political criminals: criminals who had not committed a crime.
Life and Fate (1959)
Our Soviet writer must be guided in his world only by the need of the people, useful for the society.
The more difficult a man's life had been before the camp, the more furiously he lied. This lie had no practical purpose; it served simply to glorify freedom. How could a man be unhappy outside the camp?
Life and Fate (1959)
It is impossible to publish your book, and it will not be published in the next 200 years.
We should not underestimate the harm it would bring should it be published.
A soul can live in torment for years and years, even decades, as it slowly, stone by stone, builds a mound over a grave; as it moves towards the apprehension of eternal loss and bows down before reality.
Life and Fate (1959)
We would only multiply the number of victims. Our duty is to strengthen the state and defend the people, why, then, should we publish your book.
Why should we add your book to the atomic weapons arrayed against us by our enemies. Publication of your book would help our enemies.
A man who has placed his soul in the service of Fascism declares an evil and dangerous slavery to be the only true good. Rather than overtly renouncing human feelings, he declares the crimes committed by Fascism to be the highest form of humanitarianism; he agrees to divide people up into the pure and worthy and the impure and unworthy.
Life and Fate (1959)
No, we have not destroyed it. Let it sit. We cannot change its fate.
I have not read your novel but I have carefully read the reviews of your manuscript, responses to it, which contain many excerpts from your novel. Look how many quotes from them I have written down.