How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Destruction and death and triumphant smiles—Leo, with his good set of teeth and broad shoulders, was ushered to the front of the photograph. (2.3.5)
Soviet propagandists use Leo's pretty face to counterbalance all of the unpleasant human suffering he has caused. In fact, violence is a lot easier to rationalize during wartime—you have a clear enemy with clear goals. As we'll come to learn, things get a lot more complicated during times of peace.
Quote #2
Vasili took another sidestep, positioning the gun behind the head of the eldest daughter [...] Leo drew his gun, pointing it at his deputy. (2.6.110)
While Leo refuses to cross certain lines, Vasili leaps over them with childlike glee. These two dudes are quite different: Vasili loves violence for violence's sake, while Leo only uses it when there's good reason. In our estimation, stopping Vasili from killing two kids in cold blood is as good a reason as any.
Quote #3
The imagination was the only barrier [...] All these horrors seemed small when placed beside the size and magnitude of the greater good. (2.7.45)
Leo knows that the State commits gut-wrenching violence, but he tricks himself into believing that it's for a just cause. After all, what's one individual's suffering compared to the fate of an entire nation? Yeah, people sure do their best to rationalize some truly awful things.