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Vladimir Sorokin

Vladimir Sorokin Quotes

Writer

Vladimir Sorokin is a renowned Russian writer known for his distinctive style and controversial themes. Born on August 7, 1955, he has made significant contributions to contemporary Russian literature with his unique narratives and thought-provoking content.

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All Russia People Citizens Should Soviet States Violence West Asks Concepts Demand Democracy Empires Enemy Eras Gorbachev Happens Humans Knows Kremlin

Famous Vladimir Sorokin Quotes

“Batya was the first link in the iron chain of the oprichniks. After him other links were attached, welded, fused into the Great Ring of the oprichnina, its sharp barbs pointed outward. With this ring His Majesty drew a sick, rotting, collapsing country together, he lassoed it like a wounded bear, dripping ichor blood. And the bear grew strong of bone and muscle, its wounds healed, it put on fat, its claws grew out. And we let its blood, blood that was rotten, poisoned by enemies. Now the roar of the Russian bear is heard by the entire world.”

Russia Vivid Imagery

Book:Day of the Oprichnik

Source: Day of the Oprichnik

“Germans, Frenchmen and Englishmen can say of themselves: "I am the state." I cannot say that. In Russia only the people in the Kremlin can say that. All other citizens are nothing more than human material with which they can do all kinds of things.”

People Humans Kind States Can Do Materials Citizens Russia All Kinds Englishmen Frenchmen Kremlin

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“Orthodox churches, autocracy and national traditions are supposed to form a new national ideology in Russia. This would mean that Russia would be overtaken by its past, and our past would be our future.”

Mean Would Be Past Form Church Tradition Russia Ideology Orthodox Our Future Our Past Autocracy Orthodox Church

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“Putin likes to quote a sentence from Czar Alexander III, who said that Russian has only two allies - the army and the navy. As a citizen, this makes me sit up and take notice. This is a concept of self-imposed isolation, a defense strategy that sees Russia surrounded by enemies.”

Said Two Self Enemy Citizens Concepts Army Strategy Sentences Defense Russia Likes Isolation Allies Navy Putin Czars

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“When I turn on the TV in Russia I see a general calmly claiming that our missiles are ahead of the latest American models by three five-year plans. It's a nightmare. We are creating a concept of the enemy, just as they did in the Soviet era. This is a giant step backward.”

Years Turns Three Steps Enemy Five Plans Tvs Creating Models Concepts Russia Eras Giants Five Years Nightmare Soviet Turn-on Missiles Five Year Plans

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“The bureaucracy has grown such powerful roots in Russia, and corruption is so widespread, that people from opposition have no interest in changing anything.”

People Interest Powerful Roots Corruption Russia Opposition Bureaucracy

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“Everyone in Russia must awaken the citizen within himself.”

Citizens Russia

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“I ask myself whether Russia is moving in the direction of democracy. I don't believe it is! Bit by bit, Russia is slipping back into an authoritarian empire.”

Believe Moving Asks Bits Democracy Don't Believe Russia Empires Slipping Moving In

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“The worst thing that can happen to Russia is indifference in the West - that is, if it were interested in nothing but oil and gas.”

Ifs Happens Worst West Oil Russia Indifference Gas Worst Things Oil And Gas

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“I am always surprised when I watch the weather report on German television. First they show the map of Europe and then the camera moves to the right. Then comes Kiev, then Moscow and then everything stops. This seems to be the West's view of us - of a wild Russia that begins past Moscow, a place one prefers not to see. This is a big mistake. The West must pay closer attention.”

Firsts Shows Bigs Seems Past Moving Views Pay Attention Mistake Watches Television Europe Cameras West Russia Weather Reports Maps Moscow Big Mistake Kiev

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“In Russia no one is surprised when an official accepts a bribe while at the same time portraying the state as some sacred entity to which the bourgeois should pay homage. This all sounds absurd. But for Russians it is completely normal.”

Should States Sound Pay Accepting Normal Sacred Russia Absurd Officials Entity Bourgeois Homage Bribe Portraying

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“The Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov once said: In a Democracy, portraits of a nation's leader should never exceed the size of a postage stamp. That won't happen so quickly in Russia.”

Should Said Happens Nations Leader Democracy Size Russia Portraits Stamps Exceed Postage Postage Stamps

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“Nothing has changed in Russia since Ivan the Terrible when it comes to the divide between the people and the state. The state demands a sacred willingness to make sacrifices from the people.”

People States Sacrifice Changed Terrible Demand Sacred Russia Willingness Divides Things Have Changed

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“In Russia there are special people who are permitted to do anything. They are the sacrificial priests of power. Anyone who is not a member of this group has no clout with the state.”

People States Groups Special Members Russia Priests Clout Special People

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“In Russia one can be as pure as can be and still lose everything in a flash and end up in prison.”

Stills Ends Loses Pure Prison Russia Flash

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“In Russia only those who are loyal to the people in power can become wealthy.”

People Russia Wealthy Loyal

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

“In Russia whenever you encounter a minor official, he lets you know that he is above you and that you depend on him. It is reflected in the superpower mentality that nourishes the Kremlin. An empire always demands sacrifices from its people.”

People Knows Sacrifice Depends Demand Russia Officials Encounters Empires Mentality Minors Superpower Kremlin

Author:Vladimir Sorokin

About the Author

Born: August 7, 1955
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 30

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