Alexander Zelichenko: "Conscience and extremism"

“But now I don’t want to talk about this. But about the choice that the authorities have put us before. Either live without a conscience, or we will persecute you as extremists. An unpleasant choice. Like the hero in a dirty joke: if you jump to the right, you’ll lose your head, to the left - you will become... well, you remember who the one who jumped to the left was supposed to become.

The authorities left only one acceptable way out of this dilemma. Become a fool. Pretend (first of all, naturally, to yourself) that you don’t understand. And then you can live in peace: neither the authorities nor your conscience will torment you.

Great solution! And millions, no, perhaps tens of millions, happily took advantage of it. Yes, and really, how could you not take advantage of it? Such a luxurious retreat! Hid yourself and no one will get you - neither power, nor conscience."