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Walter Duranty Quotes

Powerful Walter Duranty for Daily Growth

About Walter Duranty

Walter Duranty (1884-1957) was an American journalist who spent most of his career at The New York Times, earning a Pulitzer Prize in 1932 but later facing criticism for downplaying the Holocaust in Ukraine during Stalin's rule. Born on July 10, 1884, in Lima, Ohio, Duranty moved to New York City at age 17 to pursue a career in journalism. He began his career with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before joining The New York Times in 1913. During World War I, Duranty served as a correspondent for The Times on the Eastern Front and was one of the first Western journalists to enter Vladivostok after the Russian Revolution. This experience sparked his interest in Russia, leading him to spend much of his career covering the country. In 1922, Duranty moved to Moscow as the Moscow Bureau Chief for The New York Times, a position he held until 1936. During this time, he became one of the primary Western sources on the Soviet Union, writing extensively about Joseph Stalin and his policies. One of his most famous quotes, "You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs," was in reference to Stalin's brutal tactics during the forced collectivization of agriculture in the USSR. In 1932, Duranty won a Pulitzer Prize for his dispatches on the Soviet Union, but controversy followed when he downplayed the Holocaust by starvation that occurred during the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933, which Stalin's policies exacerbated. Despite mounting criticism, Duranty continued to defend his reporting and remained in the Soviet Union until 1936. After leaving Russia, Duranty worked for various publications before retiring from journalism in 1950. He died on March 28, 1957, in New York City. Despite the controversies surrounding his work, Walter Duranty remains a significant figure in 20th-century journalism due to his extensive coverage of Russia and his impact on perceptions of the Soviet Union during its formative years.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs."

This quote, attributed to Walter Duranty, is a figurative way of saying that some amount of inconvenience or negative consequences are inevitable when pursuing significant change or progress. In other words, taking risks or making difficult decisions may result in short-term discomfort or damage, but the ultimate outcome can be positive and worthwhile - much like how eggs must be broken to make an omelette.

"The situation here is much more satisfactory than any change would be." (Regarding the Soviet famine of 1932-1933)

This quote by Walter Duranty, a New York Times correspondent during the Soviet Union's famine of 1932-1933, demonstrates an alarming lack of empathy and responsibility towards the suffering of the masses. The phrase "much more satisfactory" suggests that Duranty found the existing situation of widespread starvation and suffering to be preferable to any potential changes or improvements. This callous indifference to human suffering is deeply disturbing, especially when expressed by a journalist tasked with reporting truthfully on world events.

"There are no famines in Russia, there is only a redistribution of grain from the affluent to the starving." (Regarding the Soviet famine of 1932-1933)

This quote by Walter Duranty, a New York Times correspondent during the Soviet Union era, suggests that the famine in Russia during 1932-1933 was not due to natural causes or a lack of food resources, but rather a deliberate redistribution of grain from prosperous regions to areas experiencing starvation. In essence, Duranty is criticizing the Soviet government for prioritizing their political agenda over the welfare of its citizens during this critical period of food scarcity and mass suffering.

"The whole truth about Russia cannot be told in one sentence."

This quote by Walter Duranty suggests that understanding or describing the complex nature of Russia is not straightforward due to its rich history, diverse culture, political intricacies, and ongoing changes. The country's reality encompasses multiple dimensions and nuances, defying simple or reductionist interpretations.

"The country is at peace, but there are no victories." (Regarding the Russian Civil War)

This quote highlights that despite a nation being in a state of peace, it does not necessarily mean progress or success. In this context, Walter Duranty was emphasizing that the end of active fighting in the Russian Civil War did not equate to victory for any side, as there were still numerous challenges and hardships persisting post-conflict. It serves as a poignant reminder that peace is more than just the absence of war; it also entails building sustainable structures to promote development, justice, and prosperity.

Must all of them and their families be physically abolished? Of course not? They must be 'liquidated' or melted in the hot fire of exile and labor into the proletarian masses.

- Walter Duranty

Exile, Them, Families, Proletarian

The problem with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather than their minds.

- Walter Duranty

Think, Minds, Most, The Problem With

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