Andrei Sakharov
Andrei Sakharov
Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharovwas a Russian nuclear physicist, Soviet dissident, an activist for disarmament, peace and human rights...
NationalityRussian
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth21 May 1921
CountryRussian Federation
war stress men
Nothing threatens freedom of the personality and the meaning of life like war, poverty, terror. But there are also indirect and only slightly more remote dangers. One of these is the stupefaction of man (the "gray mass," to use the cynical term of bourgeois prognosticators) by mass culture with its intentional or commercially motivated lowering of intellectual level and content, with its stress on entertainment or utilitarianism, and with its carefully protective censorship.
strength critical-spirit belief
Both now and for always, I intend to hold fast to my belief in the hidden strength of the human spirit.
country rights citizens
A country which does not respect the rights of its own citizens will not respect the rights of its neighbours
powerful people world
I've always thought that the most powerful weapon in the world was the bomb and that's why I gave it to my people, but I've come to the conclusion that the most powerful weapon in the world is not the bomb but it's the truth
hypocrite hands people
Intellectual freedom is essential -- freedom to obtain and distribute information, freedom for open-minded and unfearing debate and freedom from pressure by officialdom and prejudices. Such freedom of thought is the only guarantee against an infection of people by mass myths, which, in the hands of treacherous hypocrites and demagogues, can be transformed into bloody dictatorship.
apartment communal enthusiasm family few grew house large occupied relations respect rooms strong vital work
I grew up in a large communal apartment where most of the rooms were occupied by my family and relations and only a few by outsiders. The house was pervaded by a strong traditional family spirit-a vital enthusiasm for work and respect for professional competence.
balance conditions convinced fascinated grandeur great highest moscow power research secret security special time vital worked
I worked under conditions of the highest security and under great pressure, first in Moscow and subsequently in a special secret research centre. At the time we were all convinced that this work was of vital significance for the balance of power in the world and we were fascinated by the grandeur of the task.
article became contained either entire extreme future great known later mention naive point press public quickly references regarded soviet stand throughout time towards turning work
My public stand represented a turning point for me and my entire future. The article very quickly became known throughout the world. For a long time the Soviet press contained no mention of the Progress, and later references were either disapproving in the extreme or else ironic. A great many critics, even if sympathetically disposed towards me, regarded my reflections in this work as exceedingly naive and speculative.
create demands goals life ourselves perceive reason worthy
We must make demands of reason and create a life worthy of ourselves and of the goals we only dimly perceive
final obsessed perhaps purpose question served work
I am no professional politician-which is perhaps why I am continually obsessed by the question as to the purpose served by the work done by my friends and myself, as well as its final result.