As before the advent of Gorbachev – indeed, restoring a centuries-old tendency – Russians yet again believe that the people should be willing to forfeit their freedoms for the sake of the greatness of the state, which wins wars and launches Sputniks. A free press, free speech, and free elections, it is feared, may diminish the brute power that is needed for Russia to assert itself.
俄罗斯人正回归过去，也就是俄罗斯作为独一无二大国拥有显赫的权势，注定要统治全世界。戈尔巴乔夫实际上只是恢复一种历史悠久的趋向。在此之前我们俄罗斯人再次相信人民为了成就国家的伟大应该愿意放弃他们的自由，这个国家赢得了战争并发射了人造地球卫星。它担心新闻自由、言论自由和选举自由可能会削弱俄罗斯耀武扬威所需的残暴力量。