Reds (1981)

Jerzy Kosinski: Grigory Zinoviev

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Quotes 

• John Reed : Zinoviev, you don't think a man can be an individual and be true to the collective, or speak for his own country and speak for the International at the same time, or love his wife and still be faithful to the revolution. You don't have a "self" to give.

  Grigory Zinoviev : Would you be willing to give yourself to this revolution?

  John Reed : You separate a man from what he loves most, what you do is purge what's unique in him. And when you purge what's unique in him, you purge dissent. And when you purge dissent, you kill the revolution! Dissent IS revolution!

• Grigory Zinoviev : Clarity does not necessarily guarantee endorsement.

• Grigory Zinoviev : Aren't you propagandist enough to utilize what moves people most?

  John Reed : I'm propagandist enough to utilize the *truth*.

  Grigory Zinoviev : And who defines this truth? You or the party?

• Grigory Zinoviev : Comrade Reed, you can always go back to your private responsibilities, so can I. You can never, never come back to this moment in history.

• John Reed : I must see my wife. It's very urgent, and I ask only for a single place on a train.

  Grigory Zinoviev : But you have a place on the train! You have a place on the train of this revolution. You have been like so many others, the best revolutionaries. One of the engineers on the locomotive of this train that pulls this revolution on the tracks of historical necessity laid out for it by the party. You can't leave us now. We can't replace you. What right do you have to leave?

  John Reed : I'm not sure.

  Grigory Zinoviev : To do what? To see your wife?