More from Adam Michnik
America needed our help, and we had to give it.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik Do you believe in free speech? Then speak freely. Do you love the truth? Then tell it.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik Sometimes the type of person from the old machine, who is everything but an appealing figure, happens to win an election. But democracy applies to everyone, not just the noble and the clever.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik If you’re powerful, you are much more likely to be blind and deaf to signals from outside.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik A part of society in our countries would still prefer an authoritarian regime today. These are people with the mentality of Homo sovieticus. But they also exist in France – just think of Le Pen – and even in Finland and Sweden.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik Politics and ethics belong to different worlds.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik The main difference between the Prague Spring and the Velvet Revolution was that the former was mostly the work of Communist party members and others who wanted to bring about ‘socialism with a human face.’
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik We still have politicians who strive for a different type of country: Kaczynski as well as Orbán in Hungary.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik Poland is an ally of the United States of America. It was our duty to show that we are a reliable, loyal, and predictable ally.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik Start doing the things you think should be done, and start being what you think society should become.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik As a rule, dictatorships guarantee safe streets and terror of the doorbell. In democracy the streets may be unsafe after dark, but the most likely visitor in the early hours will be the milkman.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik Demagoguery and populism are rampant. We are the illegitimate children, the bastards of communism. It shaped our mentality.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik There were free elections in Bulgaria, where the opposition has just won.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik I believe that a man can only be useful to his country when he can look at it clearly.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik Both men have an authoritarian idea of government; democracy is merely a façade.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik I think it’s always dangerous to make political arguments in a religiously ideological way. And it’s very dangerous to treat as traitors to the American nation those who think differently.
Adam MichnikAdam Michnik
Original quotes
From our community writers
Even with broken wings, she dares to fly. And even with a broken heart, she dares to love.
Divya khandalDivya khandal And I refuse to apologize until the very end for the way that I feel – my feelings are valid too.
Carmen AmadosCarmen Amados Contemplate your own mortality daily, then see how much we must change.
Chris AllchinChris Allchin Poetry is the voice of the soul and the inspiration of the heart.
Teresa PeresTeresa Peres We parted sadly, like children in the street on a pleasant june afternoon.
Iestyn TudorIestyn Tudor And what shall I call you? Yours. In this life, the ones before, and all others thereafter.
Alexandra MichelleAlexandra Michelle If I could go back to a time I’d be with you. And I’d thank you again for almost being the healing to my heart.
Aimee C. HoveyAimee C. Hovey I was a living breathing nightmare and he was my favorite dream catcher.
Juwairiyyah OlgarJuwairiyyah Olgar
Meet the writers
More on against
What we once used as weapons of war, we now use as weapons against fish.
Sylvia EarleSylvia Earle I’m not against extracting a modest amount of wildlife out of the ocean for human consumption, but I am really concerned about the large-scale industrial fishing that engages in destructive practices like trawling and longlining.
Sylvia EarleSylvia Earle Humor is just another defense against the universe.
Mel BrooksMel Brooks The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.
James MadisonJames Madison You’re going against the government of the United States. You don’t beat a federal court, a federal judge, and the FBI – there’s no way.
John DalyJohn Daly We all started playing football against our best friends, and I can’t remember a moment where, because it was my best friend, I did not want to win against him.
Jurgen KloppJurgen Klopp Watch! When the wind blows my banner against the bulwark, you shall take it.
Joan of ArcJoan of Arc I would rather die than do something which I know to be a sin, or to be against God’s will.
Joan of ArcJoan of Arc