Live Not By Lies

Essay by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Dated February 12, 1974

At one time we dared not even to whisper. Now we write and read samizdat (Samizdat was the clandestine copying and distribution of literature banned by the communist states of eastern Europe under Russian rule), and sometimes when we gather in the smoke room at the Science Institute we complain honestly to one another: What kind of tricks are they (the government) playing on us, and where are they dragging (or taking) us? Gratuitous boasting of cosmic achievements (like Sputnik) while there is poverty and destruction at home. (We are) Propping up remote, uncivilized regimes (around the world). (We are) stirring up civil war (in poor countries in Africa, South America, Asia). And we recklessly fostered (promoted and aided) Mao Tse-tung at our expense - and it will be we who will be sent to war against him, and (we) will have to go. Is there any way out? And they (the government and their agencies) put on trial, anybody they want and they put sane people in asylums - always they (the government are strong), and we (the people) are powerless.

Things have almost reached rock bottom. A universal spiritual death has already infected us all, and physical death will soon flare up and consume us both and our children (the coming reign of Antichrist and the Great Tribulation)- but as before, we still smile in a cowardly way and mumble with our tongues tied. (And refuse to speak up against the lies and powers that be). But what can we do to stop it? We haven’t the strength? We have been so hopelessly dehumanized that for today’s modest ration of food we are willing to abandon all our principles, our souls, and all the efforts of our predecessors and all opportunities for our descendants – as long as you just don’t disturb (the status quo) and our fragile existence. We lack backbone, self-pride and spiritual strength.

We don’t even fear universal nuclear war death any more. Nor do we don't fear a third world war. We have already taken refuge in caves and dens of the earth (our hiding places or fall-out shelters). We just fear (to take) acts of civil courage (or Civil Disobedience or loving our neighbour). We fear most of all to lag behind the herd and to take a step alone, and suddenly find ourselves without white bread, without heating gas and without a Moscow registration. (We want comfort and security over freedom and truth).

We have been indoctrinated in political courses (and through the media especially the mainline News, but also films, and books), and in just the same way was fostered the idea to live comfortably, and all will be well for the rest of our lives. You can’t escape your environment and social conditions. (We are told). (You must submit.) Everyday life (our everyday actions, end up) defin(ing) our consciousness (or what we believe). What does it have to do with us, (we say)? We can’t do anything about it?

But we can – (we can do) everything about it. But we lie to ourselves for assurance (and personal safety). And it is not they (the government or the Deep State or the Illuminati) who are to blame for everything – (No) we ourselves, (are to blame), only we (are to blame). One can object (and say, that): Gags have been stuffed into our mouths. Nobody wants to listen to us and nobody asks us. How can we force them to listen? It is impossible to change their minds.

It would be natural to vote them out of office - but there are no elections in our country. In the west people know about strikes and protest demonstrations - but we are too oppressed, and it is a horrible prospect for us (we say): How can one suddenly renounce a job and take to the streets? Yet the other fatal paths probed during the past century by our bitter Russian history (the Russian Revolution and Civil War) are, nevertheless, not for us (today) and truly we don’t need them. Now that the axes have done their work, when everything which was sown has sprouted anew, we can see that the young and presumptuous people who thought they would make our country just and happy through terror, and bloody rebellion and civil war were themselves misled. No thanks, fathers of education (we will not take that path and swallow up another 60 million of our people)! Now we know that infamous methods, (well-known for their bad qualities), breed infamous (or bad) results. Let our hands be clean!

(But) The circle (of restriction, of confinement) - is it (really) closed? And is there really no way out? And is there only one thing left for us to do, to wait without taking action? Maybe something will happen by itself? It will never happen (by itself) as long as we daily do not sever ourselves from the most perceptible of its aspects: (the) Lies.

When Violence intrudes into peaceful life, its face glows with self-confidence, as if it were carrying a banner and shouting: “I am violence. Run away, make way for me - I will crush you.” But Violence quickly grows old. And (when) it has lost confidence within itself, and in order to maintain a respectable face it summons falsehoods as its ally- since violence lays its ponderous paw not every day and not on every shoulder. It demands from us only obedience to (the) lies and daily participation in (the) lies - all loyalty (to the corrupt system) lies (or is found) in our obedience to the lies.

And the simplest and most accessible key to our self-neglected liberation lies (or is found) right here: Personal non¬ participation in (the) lies. Though lies conceal everything, though lies embrace everything – (It must not be) with any help from me. If I do not participate in the lies, I open a breech (or hole) in the imaginary encirclement caused by my inaction. It is the easiest thing to do for us but the most devastating for the lies. Because when people renounce (the) lies it simply cuts short their existence. Like an infection, they can exist only in a living organism.

We do not exhort ourselves (or stir ourselves up in our case to obey God’s commandments over man’s). We have not sufficiently matured to march into the squares and shout the truth out loud or to express aloud what we think. It’s not necessary. It’s dangerous, (we say). But let us (have the strength to) refuse to say that which we do not think. This is the path (we must take), the easiest and most accessible one, which takes into account our inherent cowardice, (which is) already well rooted (within us). And it is much easier - it’s dangerous even to say this - than the sort of civil disobedience which Gandhi advocated (which we don’t have the faith and courage to pursue because we know the end will be quick and fatal).

Our path is to walk away from the gangrenous boundary (the dying lies we have lived). If we did not paste together the dead bones and scales of (a rotten) ideology, if we did not sew together the rotting rags (of false dogma), we would be astonished how quickly the lies would be rendered helpless and subside (and vanish). That which should be naked would then really appear naked before the whole world. (Like in the Emperor’s New Clothes.)

So, in our timidity, let each of us make a choice: Whether to remain a conscious servant of falsehood [of course, it is not out of inclination (to do that), but to feed one’s family, (one must compromise) and one (therefore) raises his children in the spirit of lies.]  Or (shall we try) to shrug off the lies and become an honest man worthy of respect both by one’s children and contemporaries.

And from that day onward he:

- Will not henceforth write, sign, or print in any way a single phrase which in his opinion distorts the truth.

- Will utter such a phrase neither in private conversation nor in the presence of many people, neither on his own behalf nor at the prompting of someone else, neither in the role of agitator, teacher or education nor in a theatrical role.

- Will not depict, foster, or broadcast a single idea which he can see is false or a distortion of the truth, whether it be in painting, sculpture, photography, technical science or music.

- Will not cite out of context, either orally or written, a single quotation so as to please someone, to feather his own nest, to achieve success in his work, if he does not share completely the idea which is quoted, or if it does not accurately reflect the matter at issue.

- Will not allow himself to be compelled to attend demonstrations or meetings if they are contrary to his desire or will, and will neither take into hand nor raise into the air a poster or slogan which he does not completely accept.

- Will not raise (his) hand to vote for a proposal with which he does not sincerely sympathize.

- Will vote neither openly nor secretly for a person whom he considers unworthy or (of) doubtful abilities.

- Will not allow himself to be dragged to a meeting where there can be expected a force or distorted discussion of a question.

- Will immediately walk out of a meeting, session, lecture, performance or film showing, if he hears a speaker tell lies, or purvey ideological nonsense or shameless propaganda.

- Will not subscribe or buy a newspaper or magazine in which information is distorted and primary facts are concealed.

Of course, we have not listed all of the possible and necessary deviations from falsehood. But a person who purifies himself will easily distinguish other instances with his purified outlook. No, it will not be the same with everyone at first. Some, at first will lose their jobs. For young people who want to live in truth, this will in the beginning, (and it will) complicate their young lives very much, because the required recitations are stuffed with lies, and it is necessary to make a choice.

But there are no loopholes for anybody who wants to be honest. On any given day (any) one of us will be confronted with at least one of the above-mentioned choices even in the most secure of the technical sciences. (We must decide between) Either truth or falsehood: (Because what we decide will cause us to move) Toward spiritual independence or toward spiritual servitude.

And he who is not sufficiently courageous even to defend his own soul - don’t let him be proud of his “progressive” views, and don't let him boast that he is an academic or a people’s artist, a merited figure, or a general - let him say to himself: I am in the herd, and (I am) a coward. It’s all the same to me so long as I’m fed and warm.

Even this path (of not living by lies), which is the most modest of all paths of resistance, will not be easy for us. But it is much easier than self-immolation (i.e. burning oneself to death) or a hunger strike: The flames will not envelop your body, your eyeballs will not burst from the heat, and brown bread and clean water will always be available to your family.

A great people of Europe, the Czechoslovakians, whom we betrayed and deceived (in 1956): Haven’t they shown us how a vulnerable breast can stand up even against tanks if there is a worthy heart within it?

You say it will not be easy? But it will be the easiest of all possible resources (or choices we have available to us). It will not be an easy choice for our bodies, but it is the only one for our souls. It is not an easy path. But there are already people, even dozens of them, who over the years have maintained all these points and lived by truth. (Jesus Christ, the early Apostles, the Old Testament prophets, Richard Wurmbrand, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Bonhoffer, etc.)

So, you will not be the first to take this path, but will join those who have already taken it. This path will be easier and shorter for all of us if we take it by mutual efforts (together) and in close rank. If there are tens of thousands of us then we would not even recognize our country.

If we are too frightened, then we should stop complaining that someone is suffocating us. We ourselves are doing it. Let us then bow down even lower, let us cry, and our brothers the biologists will help bring nearer the day when they are able to read our thoughts and they (will find that even our thoughts) are worthless and hopeless.

And if we get cold feet, even taking this step, then we are indeed worthless and hopeless, and the scorn of Pushkin (considered the father of Russian literature in poetry and fiction) should be directed to us:

“Why should cattle have the gifts of freedom? Their heritage from generation to generation is the belled yoke and lash.”

(And so should be ours!)