...of ignoring our conscience

'Zhenya, my dear,' said Viktor, 'you've acted according to your conscience. Believe me - that's the highest thing a man can do. I don't know what life has in store for you, but I'm sure of one thing: you listened to your conscience - and the greatest tragedy of our age is that we don't listen to our consciences. We don't say what we think. We feel one thing and do another. Remember Tolstoy's words about capital punishment? "I can't remain silent." But we remained silent in 1937 when thousands of innocent people were executed. Or rather some of us - the best of us - remained silent. Others applauded noisily. And we remained silent during the horrors of collectivisation... Yes, we spoke too soon about Socialism - it's not just a matter of heavy industry. Socialism, first of all, is the right to a conscience. To deprive a man of his conscience is a terrible crime. And if a man has the strength to listen to his conscience and then act on it, he feels a surge of happiness. I'm glad for you - you've acted according to your conscience.'

[Life and Fate, Grossman, V.]