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“Faith in miracles took the place of science, just as faith in social transformations moved the leaders of the new society. That is why those leaders eagerly welcomed every prophecy of Lysenko's. Like addicts who realize the harm of their addiction yet still pursue the narcotic, these leaders recognized the deception yet wanted to be deceived. When the promised miracles failed, the Lysenkoists did not turn back to science; instead, they drew up even more unreal plans, issued even more glowing reports, and so it went in a dizzying spiral.” — Valery N. Soyfer
Faith in miracles took the place of science, just as faith in social transformations moved the leaders of the new society. That is why those leaders eagerly welcomed every prophecy of Lysenko's. Like addicts who realize the harm of their addiction yet still pursue the narcotic, these leaders recognized the deception yet wanted to be deceived. When the promised miracles failed, the Lysenkoists did not turn back to science; instead, they drew up even more unreal plans, issued even more glowing reports, and so it went in a dizzying spiral.