How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
To his mind there was something about the building itself which made people uneasy, as though fear had been factored into the design. (2.7.1)
You might just be on to something, Leo. The MGB has perfected the art of fear, using it as a tool to subjugate and control the masses. People are terrified of being brought to the Lubyanka for interrogation: it usually leads to either death or the Gulag. That's some scary stuff.
Quote #2
They existed to terrify. Terror was necessary. Terror protected the revolution. (2.7.3)
In Leo's mind, the MGB is inspiring terror for a noble reason—to build a better future for the Russian people. We're sure that the people being terrified feel a little bit different about it, but at this point, Leo doesn't question issues like guilt and innocence much; he leaves the thinking to the state.
Quote #3
Even from the age of six the children understood that to disrespect authority, to speak out of turn, was to take your life into your hands. (2.10.4)
Kids are taught to be scared of the government before they're potty trained. How do you think this will affect them when they grow up? Do you think they'll grow up to be happy, productive members of Soviet society? Or are they going to be so terrified that they lose their minds?