16+ Vladimir Voinovich Quotes On Education, Religion And Democracy

Vladimir Voinovich is a Russian writer and dissident. He is best known for his satirical works which often criticized the Soviet Union and its leaders. His works include The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin and The Ivankiad. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Vladimir Voinovich on education, leadership, religion.

Revival of the Stalin cult is very clearly being encouraged from above, and it's a way of encouraging the cult of Putin. The message is that people of this type are the only ones who can govern the country properly. Putin is today's Stalin. — Vladimir Voinovich

Putin got lucky with the Sochi Olympics - it didn't fail, it was a great spectacle - and then he thought, "Why not grab Crimea?" And ended up getting stuck. If he had been a wise man, he wouldn't have done that. Of course, then he wouldn't have held the Olympics, either. — Vladimir Voinovich

They say that generally, rulers - dictators - tend to be short, like me. It gives them an inferiority complex; when they were kids, they wanted to be big and to crush the small, but they were small themselves. Lenin was short, Stalin was short, Putin... — Vladimir Voinovich

People sometimes ask: Is Putin a clever man? Yes, he's clever in his own way, when it comes to political intrigue, and he's got a good head for numbers. But as soon as he took office, the first thing he did was to institute a new anthem based on the old Soviet one; that was a very major step, not a petty issue. He began at once to appeal to people's basest instincts. It is true that people in Russia are used to obedience. — Vladimir Voinovich

At this point, I don't care much where I live. I don't feel as attached to Russia's native woods as I was once. I used to dearly love Moscow, even though I wasn't born there; but now, it's changed so much that it's a strange city for me. I had a bond with my friends, but most of them are gone; I haven't made new ones, and the ones that I do have are mostly in Germany and in America. — Vladimir Voinovich

Generally, if you look at present-day trends, you can predict the future. Very few people do that, because I've been told that only 3 to 5 percent of people are aware of being a part of history; the overwhelming majority think things will always be the way they are now. When Stalin was alive, most people could not imagine that he would ever die. Same under Brezhnev. — Vladimir Voinovich

The annexation of Crimea did undermine Ukraine to some extent, but less than it did Russia; this is a case in which the victim wins. Ukraine got rid of a region that requires massive subsidies and received international sympathy; meanwhile, Russia bit off this chunk it can't chew. — Vladimir Voinovich

A real dictator usually isn't interested in money or women, just pure power. — Vladimir Voinovich

Only 3 to 5 percent of people are aware of being a part of history; the overwhelming majority think things will always be the way they are. — Vladimir Voinovich

When the regime changed in Japan, the Japanese changed; Russians too can change, as long as the conditions for it are present once again. Today, we are on the verge of a very uncertain situation when either everything will end in catastrophe, or better people will come to power. — Vladimir Voinovich

I think that right now the West understands Russia better than before and feels a much greater wariness toward it. I think that, if anything, Russia's sinister nature is exaggerated, in that most contemporary analysts in the West can't even imagine that Russia could be different. I think it can, with a different turn of events. — Vladimir Voinovich

A meeting is an occasion when people gather together, some to say what they do not think, and others not to say what they really do. — Vladimir Voinovich

When you deny something your power is much more conspicuous than when you approve it. — Vladimir Voinovich

Sometimes there are historical moments when a country's course could be turned one way or the other, when fate can be escaped. — Vladimir Voinovich

From Gorbachev to Yeltsin, the pendulum swung one way; now, Putin has pushed it very far in the opposite direction, and the backlash is inevitable. So I think the year 2042 could be quite interesting. Specifically, I think today's reactionary policy will end in total failure and the need for a new perestroika; there will be a "time of troubles," which may well end in the disintegration of Russia. — Vladimir Voinovich

Russia may soon get another chance to move closer to the West, to make a step - I do believe the first step toward democracy was made in the 1990s, and perhaps the next step can happen now. If this happens, the West needs to see it in time and support it in an intelligent way. — Vladimir Voinovich

Life Lessons by Vladimir Voinovich

1. Vladimir Voinovich's work emphasizes the importance of standing up for what you believe in, even in the face of adversity.
2. He also highlights the power of satire and humor as a means of exposing the truth and fighting for justice.
3. Finally, Voinovich's work serves as a reminder that individual action can have a powerful impact on society, even in the face of oppressive regimes.