Summary
I did not write a summary.
Analysis
Notes and Quotes
- “I have come to understand the truth of all the religions of the world: They struggle with the evil inside a human being (inside every human being). It is impossible to expel evil from the world in its entirety, but it is possible to constrict it within each person.” p. 312
- everyone has the capacity for evil. It’s up to the individual to deal with their own evil
- “There is nothing that so aids and assists the awakening of omniscience within us as insistent thoughts about one’s own transgressions, errors, mistakes.” p. 313
- it’s a good practice to reflect on your transgressions and mistakes. This is what helps us grow and improve.
- “And that is why I turn back to the years of my imprisonment and say, sometimes to the astonishment of those around me: ‘Bless you, prison!’ ” p.313
- Prison is a place of reflection. As Solzhenitsyn said (paraphrased), I talk about the cruelty of the prison guards and wardens, but years ago I myself was a soldier, and I say, ‘were we any better??’
- p.385, last paragraph
- “We were quick to realize how difficult it is for a man to exist, divorced from his own place, his familiar environment” p.421
- His thoughts on Exile. He says exile was probably invented first, and then prison after. When we exiled people, we realized, as the quote says above, how difficult that is on people, so we invented prison instead
- Why is this difficult? Your familiar environment is a place of order, you understand it, you know it. When you are banished from this place, you are thrown into a place of chaos for an indefinite period of time. God only knows how that may truly impact you.
- “Here we see that the treat of exile… has a somber power of its own… Emptiness. Helplessness. A life that is no life at all…” p.422
- even in prison, at least you are given food, shelter and have company, but in exile you are completely on your own
Main Idea of the Book
I think the central idea of the book is that evil is ever-present and the crimes of the Soviet Union are a product of the collective guilt or collective evil of the people.