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Quote by Vasily Grossman

Work

Life And Fate (Vintage Classic Russians Series)

This novel delves into the lives of various characters, illustrating the impact of historical events on ordinary people. It encompasses a wide range of themes, including political intrigue, personal sacrifice, and the struggle for survival in a time of war and upheaval. more

Author

Vasily Grossman
Vasily Grossman

Vasily Grossman (December 12, 1905 – September 14, 1964) was a Soviet Jewish writer and journalist, best known for his works on World War II. Born in Berdychiv, Ukraine, he initially studied chemical engineering before turning to literature. As a war correspondent for the Red Star newspaper, he witnessed the Battle of Stalingrad and documented Nazi atrocities. His masterpiece, Life and Fate, was banned by Soviet authorities for its criticism of Stalinism and only published in the 1980s. Grossman's works explore themes of war, totalitarianism, and humanity, earning him recognition as a significant voice in 20th-century Russian literature. more

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“The divine impeccability of the immortal [Soviet] State turned out not only to have suppressed individual human beings but also to have defended them, to have comforted them in their weakness, to have justified their insignificance. The State had taken on its own shoulders the entire weight of responsibility; it had liberated people from the chimera of conscience.”

PeopleHumansStatesIndividualHuman BeingsResponsibilityTakenDivineWeaknessConscienceWeightShouldersImmortalSovietJustifiedLiberatedInsignificanceChimera
Author:Vasily Grossman
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“Chekhov said: let's put God - and all these grand progressive ideas - to one side. Let's begin with man; let's be kind and attentive to the individual man - whether he's a bishop, a peasant, an industrial magnate, a convict in the Sakhalin Islands, or a waiter in a restaurant. Let's begin with respect, compassion, and love for the individual - or we'll never get anywhere.”

MenKindSaidIdeasIndividualSidesCompassionAnd LoveIslandsRestaurantsProgressiveBe KindPeasantsBishopsWaiterConvictsChekhov
Book:Life And Fate (Vintage Classic Russians Series)
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“And in this silence of the dumb and these speeches of the blind, in this medly of people bound together by the same grief, terror and hope, in this hatred and lack of understanding between men who spoke the same tongue, you could see much of the tragedy of the twentieth century.”

PeopleMenTogetherUnderstandingGriefSilenceCenturySpeechHatredTragedyBlindBoundsTerrorTongueDumbSpokesTwentieth CenturyLack Of Understanding
Book:Life And Fate (Vintage Classic Russians Series)
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