n author of science fiction
and political satire
. Despite having been a prominent Old Bolshevik
, Zamyatin was deeply disturbed by the policies pursued by the CPSU following the October Revolution
. Due to his use of literature to criticize Soviet society, Zamyatin has been referred to as one of the first Soviet dissidents
. He is most famous for his 1921
novel We
, a story set in a dystopia
n future police state
.
I turned. She was in a light, saffron-yellow dress of the ancient model. This was a thousand times more cruel than if she had worn nothing. [D-503]
It has never occurred to me before, but this is truly how it is: all of us on earth walk constantly over a seething, scarlet sea of flame, hidden below, in the belly of the earth. We never think of it. But what if the thin crust under our feet should turn into glass and we should suddenly see.. I became glass. I saw- within myself. [D-503]
At night numbers must sleep; it is their duty, just as it is their duty to work in the daytime. Not sleeping at night is a criminal offense. [D-503]
Knowledge, absolutely sure of its infallibility, is faith. [D-503]
Those two, in paradise, were given a choice: happiness without freedom, or freedom without happiness. There was no third alternative. [D-503]
The ancient God created the old man, capable of erring- thus he erred himself. [D-503]