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Quote by Shirley MacLaine

“I am stubborn," he had said once, 'or how you call "obstinate," then you must hit me. Hit me hard. Russians need to be hit. We only understand to be hit. We need a big fist, I can tell you.”

Book:Dancing in the Light

Work

Dancing in the Light

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Author

Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine is an American film actress celebrated for her versatile performances across various genres. Born on April 24, 1934, she has had a distinguished career in Hollywood, earning numerous accolades and nominations. MacLaine achieved international acclaim for her role in 'The Apartment' (1960) and has since starred in numerous other prominent films. more

“I read many books on Russian artists, writers, philosophers, and musicians in an attempt to understand [Vassy, her partner]. I seemed to be concluding that the Russian himself was saying 'We are not to be understood.' It was maddeningly challenging to me. I didn't like not understanding...at least to my satisfaction. Half savage, half saint. That seemed to be the consensus of opinion among the Russians themselves. The communist government appeared to be irrelevant, merely a continuation in a different form of a system which basically denied the importance of the individual. Vassy had told me in the beginning that the Russian people had the government they needed and understood, and in many respects he even claimed they would want Joe Stalin back because he would, in effect, protect them from themselves.”

Russian Government Russian Culture Russian Soul

Book:Dancing in the Light

Source: Dancing in the Light

“Winter was coming on–the terrible Russian winter. I heard business men speak of it so: 'Winter was always Russia’s best friend. Perhaps now it will rid us of Revolution.”

Cold Winter Russian Revolution Russian Culture

Author:John Reed

“Anyway, what can one do here? I am seriously thinking of running away and joining the Foreign Legion or the North-West Mounted Police—whichever work the shorter hours.”

Running Away Escape Foreign Legion Stringham

Book:A Dance to the Music of Time: 1st Movement

Source: A Dance to the Music of Time: 1st Movement

“That night at dinner, I thanked Rayya for taking care of everybody at the funeral, and for protecting us from the dangerous young man. She looked surprised, then her face softened. “Oh, honey,” she said, and suddenly tears stood in her eyes. “Did you think I was protecting us? No, baby, no. I was protecting him. Because here’s the reality, babe: We’re fine, and we’ll always be fine—even if he stole our car! Nobody needs to worry about us. But the odds are that kid doesn’t have much longer to live. He’s really far gone, and he doesn’t have any support system. But there’s always a chance he might get clean some day, with a miracle. And if he ever cleans up his life, as part of his recovery he’ll have to make amends to every single person he’s ever harmed. And I don’t want that poor kid, in addition to everything else he’ll have to face someday, to be forced to deal with the fact that he stole money from people at his grandmother’s funeral. I wouldn’t want that for anybody. So that’s what we were doing today, honey. We were keeping him safe from that—from the worst thing he could do to himself.”