242 Quotes by Yevgeny Zamyatin

The most effective way of destroying art is the canonization of one given form. And one philosophy.

What we need in literature today are vast philosophic horizons; we need the most ultimate, the most fearsome, the most fearless 'Why?' and 'What next?'("Literature, Revolution, and Entropy")

But if I am not a criminal, I beg to be permitted to go abroad with my wife temporarily, for at least one year, with the right to return as soon as it becomes possible in our country to serve great ideas in literature without cringing before little men, as soon as there is at least a partial change in the prevailing view concerning the role of the literary artist. (“Letter To Stalin”)

True literature can exist only where it is created, not by diligent and trustworthy functionaries, but by madmen, hermits, heretics, dreamers, rebels, and skeptics.

Ime te bolesti je:Mašta.To je -- crv, koji grize crne bore na čelu. To je groznica koja vas tjera da trčite sve dalje -- iako to 'dalje' počinje tamo gdje završava sreća. To je -- posljednja barikada na putu prema sreći.Radujte se: ona je već raznesena.Put je slobodan.

knowledge, absolutely sure of its infallibility, is faith

Let my notes, like the most sensitive seismograph, record the curve of even the most insignificant vibrations of my brain: for it is precisely such vibrations that are sometimes the forewarning of...

We need writers who fear nothing. ("Our Goal")

The moon, our own, earthly moon is bitterly lonely, because it is alone in the sky, always alone, and there is no one to turn to, no one to turn to it. All it can do is ache across the weightless airy ice, across thousands of versts, toward those who are equally lonely on earth, and listen to the endless howling of dogs. (“A Story About The Most Important Thing”)