Václav Havel

“In his essay, Havel describes a Prague greengrocer who stops displaying the slogan 'Workers of the world, unite!' after realizing it was always a lie and that he and others had been living in a lie.”

“He could be reproached for not having the proper decoration in his window; someone might even accuse him of disloyalty. He does it because these things must be done if one is to get along in life.”

“It is an excuse that everyone can use, from the greengrocer, who conceals his fear of losing his job behind an alleged interest in the unification of the workers of the world, to the highest functionary, whose interest in staying in power can be cloaked in phrases about service to the working class.”

“by this very fact, individuals confirm the system, fulfill the system, make the system, are the system.”

“Václav Havel argues that systems of domination persist not because people believe in them, but because they behave as if they do.”

“It is an excuse that everyone can use,”