A phrase, allegedly said by the Nobel Laureate, is popular on the network. We checked whether its author is really Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov.

A completely quote sounds like this: “Giant biological energy ripens in the fool. Neither conscience nor doubts overcome him. His pride is immense, morality is unknown to him. He can do anything, especially the fool attracts a passion for destruction, to remake the world. ”

In this form, a statement signed by the famous physicist and human rights activist is very popular in social networks (Facebook - 16,000 And 1700 reposts in the spring of 2022, VKontakte - 8100 Views, Twitter - 1500 Retvitov). In some sources It also contains a proposal “is especially dangerous, even terrible,“ cultural ”,“ educated ”a fool based on knowledge and authority.” On the site Livelib.ru Even the source of the phrase is indicated - the book of Andrei Sakharov “Anxiety and Hope”.

The easiest way would be to find a quote from Sakharov in the aforementioned collection "Anxiety and Hope", compiled by the widow of human rights activist Elena Bonner in 1990 and containing the main socio-political works of Andrei Dmitrievich. However, there is nothing similar there. As in other publications dedicated to Sakharov.

Interesting moment: on Livelib.ru Sakharov’s quote ends with the words: “I think that the world will be destroyed by“ cultural idiots ”of the type of Sakharov Physics.” Could Andrei Dmitrievich himself say so about himself? Given the previous maxims - it is unlikely, because they can see a shade of contempt, and not at all self -irony.

Nevertheless, there is a printed publication in which we can see the above quote, and in full, with the mention of the physicist of Sakharov. It's about the book "Music as Fate" - diaries The famous composer George Sviridov, the author of the suite “Time, forward” and the waltz for the film “Flood”. Record With this quote is dated January 12, 1990, less than a month after Sakharov’s death. And this is not the only example of the composer’s hostile attitude to the human rights activist. So, in another place He writes that the “information machine” is a “satanic weapon, a“ peaceful ”hydrogen bomb like a product <...> Sakharov, almost erected to saints.” In one more Records Sviridov also calls the human rights activist "Dr. Sakharov, the inventor of a monstrous hydrogen bomb."

Thus, the real author of the quote under consideration is composer George Sviridov. And Andrei Sakharov was attributed to her, apparently, by mistake-due to the mention of the surname of the human rights activist and the scientist at the end of the name.

The image on the cover: Wikipedia.