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I regard the death penalty as a savage and immoral institution that undermines the moral and legal foundations of society. I reject the notion that the death penalty has any essential deterrent effect on potential offenders. I am convinced that the contrary is true - that savagery begets only savagery.

Andrei Sakharov

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Andrei Sakharov
Age: 68 †
Born: 1921
Born: May 21
Died: 1989
Died: December 14
Human Rights Activist
Nuclear Physicist
Nuclear Physicist
Human Rights Activist
Physicist
Moscow
Russian SFSR
Andrei D. Sakharov
Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov
Society
Convinced
Immoral
Offenders
Death
Effect
Institution
Foundations
True
Notion
Rejects
Begets
Institutions
Legal
Savage
Foundation
Potential
Penalty
Regard
Essential
Penalties
Undermines
Effects
Contrary
Savages
Deterrent
Moral
Essentials
Reject
Savagery

More quotes by Andrei Sakharov

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For me, the moral difficulties lie in the continual pressure brought to bear on my friends and immediate family, pressure which is not directed against me personally but which at the same time is all around me.
Andrei Sakharov
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International affairs must be completely permeated with scientific methodology and a democratic spirit, with a fearless weighing of all facts, views, and theories, with maximum publicity of ultimate and intermediate goals, and with a consistency of principles.
Andrei Sakharov
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I've always thought that the most powerful weapon in the world was the bomb and that's why I gave it to my people, but I've come to the conclusion that the most powerful weapon in the world is not the bomb but it's the truth
Andrei Sakharov
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I could not stop something I knew was wrong and terrible. I had an awful sense of powerlessness.
Andrei Sakharov
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Intellectual freedom is the only guarantee of a scientific - democratic approach to politics, economic development, and culture.
Andrei Sakharov
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In and after 1964 when I began to concern myself with the biological issues, and particularly from 1967 onwards, the extent of the problems over which I felt uneasy increased to such a point that in 1968 I felt a compelling urge to make my views public.
Andrei Sakharov
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Do not trust governments more than governments trust their own people.
Andrei Sakharov
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Our country, like every modern state, needs profound democratic reforms. It needs political and ideological pluralism, a mixed economy and protection of human rights and the opening up of society.
Andrei Sakharov
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You can't sit on two chairs at once.
Andrei Sakharov
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In 1947 I defended my thesis on nuclear physics, and in 1948 I was included in a group of research scientists whose task was to develop nuclear weapons.
Andrei Sakharov
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Both now and for always, I intend to hold fast to my belief in the hidden strength of the human spirit.
Andrei Sakharov
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A country which does not respect the rights of its own citizens will not respect the rights of its neighbours
Andrei Sakharov
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Profound insights arise only in debate, with a possibility of counterargument, only when there is a possibility of expressing not only correct ideas but also dubious ideas.
Andrei Sakharov
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My present work concerns the problems connected with the theory of elementary particles, the theory of gravitation and cosmology and I shall be glad if I can manage to make some contribution to these important branches of science.
Andrei Sakharov
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I regard the death penalty as a savage and immoral institution that undermines the moral and legal foundations of society.
Andrei Sakharov