Chimera Quote by Vasily Grossman
![“The divine impeccability of the immortal [Soviet] State turned out not only to have suppressed individual human beings but also to have defended them, to have comforted them in their weakness, to have justified their insignificance. The State had taken on its own shoulders the entire weight of…” quote by Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0df/vasily-grossman-4608_chimera_the-divine-impeccability-of-the-immortal_1004610.jpg)
“The divine impeccability of the immortal [Soviet] State turned out not only to have suppressed individual human beings but also to have defended them, to have comforted them in their weakness, to have justified their insignificance. The State had taken on its own shoulders the entire weight of responsibility; it had liberated people from the chimera of conscience.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman, 1960
The state claims moral perfection but ends up suppressing individuals while paradoxically offering them comfort and justification for their insignificance.
In simple terms: The state pretends to be perfect but actually controls and comforts people.
Key Takeaway
Question the state's moral claims.
Themes
politics
power
individuality
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- political activism
- personal ethics
- civil discourse
Key Concepts
totalitarianism
psychology of authority
Questions to Reflect On
- Is comfort from authority ever justified?
- How does state power affect personal conscience?
A Different Perspective
State comfort can mask oppression.
![“[The Soviet State Security Service] is more than a secret police organization, more than an intelligence and counter-intelligence organization. It is an instrument for subversion, manipulation and violence, for secret intervention in the affairs of other countries.” quote by Allen W. Dulles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/38c/allen-w-dulles-218078_cia_the-soviet-state-security-service-is-mor_2430356.jpg)
