"Any man who has once proclaimed violence as his method is inevitably forced to take the lie as his principle"
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
About this Quote
This quote by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn speaks to the effects of using violence as a means to an end. It suggests that once an individual has selected violence as their approach, they are then required to accept the lie as their principle. This suggests that they must accept the concept that violence is the only way to attain their objectives, and that any other ways of achieving them is void. This quote is a caution versus the use of violence, as it suggests that it can result in a cycle of violence and lies that can be challenging to break out of. It likewise recommends that violence can cause a lack of morality, as it can be used to validate any action, regardless of its ethical ramifications. Ultimately, this quote works as a suggestion that violence ought to be used as a last resort, and that it needs to never be the very first choice.
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time"
