Quotes from Andrei Sakharov

Intellectual freedom is the only guarantee of a scientific - democratic approach to politics, economic development, and culture.

A country which does not respect the rights of its own citizens will not respect the rights of its neighbours

Both now and for always, I intend to hold fast to my belief in the hidden strength of the human spirit.

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.

We should not minimize our sacred endeavors in this world, where, like faint glimmers in the dark, we have emerged....

Profound thoughts arise only in debate, with a possibility of counterargument, only when there is a possibility of expressing not only correct ideas, but also dubious ideas.

For me, the moral difficulties lie in the continual pressure brought to bear on my friends and immediate family, pressure which is not directed against me personally but which at the same time is all around me.

Our country, like every modern state, needs profound democratic reforms. It needs political and ideological pluralism, a mixed economy and protection of human rights and the opening up of society.

I regard the death penalty as a savage and immoral institution that undermines the moral and legal foundations of society.

In 1947 I defended my thesis on nuclear physics, and in 1948 I was included in a group of research scientists whose task was to develop nuclear weapons.

Both now and for always, I intend to hold fast to my belief in the hidden strength of the human spirit.

My present work concerns the problems connected with the theory of elementary particles, the theory of gravitation and cosmology and I shall be glad if I can manage to make some contribution to these important branches of science.

Do not trust governments more than governments trust their own people.

In and after 1964 when I began to concern myself with the biological issues, and particularly from 1967 onwards, the extent of the problems over which I felt uneasy increased to such a point that in 1968 I felt a compelling urge to make my views public.