Markus Wolf

“I know Mischa, but you know how the politburo runs. If I say one word of this in there, I'll be out of my job the next day.' Remember, Gorbachev only became general secretary after he had kept his mouth shut under three predecessors.”
― Markus Wolf, Man Without a Face: The Autobiography of Communism's Greatest Spymaster

“[W]henever we heard an unflattering portrait of our own side our first question to ourselves was not “Is this true?” but “What are they trying to hide about themselves by accusing us of this?” Once this mental defense system had been perfected, few criticisms could hit home.”
― Markus Wolf, Man Without a Face: The Autobiography of Communism's Greatest Spymaster