20 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Quotes On Life, Government, and Religion

These Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Quotes give you a peek into his life and experiences.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is a Russian-born man known as the most famous Soviet dissident.

His family continued involvement with the Russian Orthodox Church as a child, defying the Soviet anti-religious campaign during the 1920s.

Solzhenitsyn eventually became an atheist until he was arrested during World War II for making derogatory remarks in a personal letter about Joseph Stalin while serving in the Red Army.

During that time, he became an Eastern Orthodox Christian.

Solzhenitsyn exiled himself from Russia and ended up in West Germany. Eventually, after staying in Switzerland, he was invited to the United States by Harvard University.

They gave him an honorary degree in 1978. While he was harassed by the KBG until they believed he was no longer a threat, his work wasn’t finished.

Also, check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily wisdom. 

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Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Quotes Supporting Freedom

His personal experiences gave him first hand experience with living in a country with limited freedom. These quotes help us see through his perspective.

1. “It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes… we make mistakes because the easiest and most comfortable course for us is to seek insight where it accords with our emotions – especially selfish ones.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

2. “Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they equal, they are not free.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

3. “What good is freedom to you? If you’re free, your faith will soon be choked by thorns! Be glad you’re in prison. Here you have time to think about your soul.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

4. “Only those who decline to scramble up the career ladder are interesting as human beings. Nothing is more boring than a man with a career.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

5. “Can a man who’s warm understand one who’s freezing?” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

6. “The battleline between good and evil runs through the heart of every man.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

7. “For a country to have a great writer is like having a second government. That is why no regime has ever loved great writers, only minor ones.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

8. “There are a lot of clear thinkers everywhere.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

9. “The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie, ‘One word of truth outweighs the world.'” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

10. “It is in the nature of the human being to seek a justification for his actions.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Quotes To Be Remembered

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn didn’t allow himself to be quieted by a government or ideology. He continued to share his opinions and his words can motivate people to stand up for what’s right.

11. “Violence can only be concealed by a lie, and the lie can only be maintained by violence.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

12. “Man has set for himself the goal of conquering the world but in the process loses his soul.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

13. “Talent is always conscious of its own abundance, and does not object to sharing.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

14. “A man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy and nothing can stop him.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

15. “To stand up for truth is nothing. For truth, you must sit in jail.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

16. “In our country, the lie has become not just a moral category but a pillar of the State.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

17. “When truth is discovered by someone else, it loses something of its attractiveness.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

18. “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.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

19. “Literature transmits incontrovertible condensed experience… from generation to generation. In this way, literature becomes the living memory of a nation.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

20. “Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Did you gain new insight from the words of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn?

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote to warn people about Communist aggression and the dangers that come with it.

Conservative government officials received his messages. However, liberals were more critical.

Solzhenitsyn was also critical of the West.

He believed the Allies should have been involved early in World War II but weren’t because they didn’t care what happened in the east and only cared when it impacted them directly.

Solzhenitsyn returned to Russia in 1990 when his citizenship was restored.

He stayed there for the rest of his life. He has many speeches and published works throughout his lifetime.

Solzhenitsyn died in 2008 of heart failure. He was 89 years old.

His death was recognized by leaders around the world who paid tribute.

Did you gain any new insights from the life and experiences shown in these Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn quotes?