"To choose one's victims, to prepare one's plans minutely, to slake an implacable vengeance, and then to go to bed... there is nothing sweeter in the world."

"Gratitude is a dog's disease."

"In the land of the Soviets, every citizen has the right to work, rest, and education. But these rights are meaningless if the enemies of the people are allowed to undermine them."

"Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas?"

"The revolution is not a dinner party, nor an essay, nor a painting, nor a piece of embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimo…"