In a society of little economic development, universal inactivity accompanies universal poverty. You survive not by struggling against nature, . . . or by relentless labour; instead you survive by expending as little energy as possible. . .

When is a crisis reached? When questions arise that can't be answered.

In Poland a man must be one thing: white or black, here or there, with us or against us --clearly, openly, without hesitations. . . . We lack the liberal, democratic tradition rich in all its gradations.

Our job is like a baker's work -- his rolls are tasty as long as they're fresh; after two days they're stale; after a week, they're covered with mould and fit only to be thrown out.

Money changes all the iron rules into rubber bands.