How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Within this polished and practiced sequence of self-justification there was a small amount of denial, denial which sat dormant in the pit of his stomach. (2.7.47)
Of course, most lies are told two feet from the bathroom mirror. Leo has lied to himself about everything: his job, his marriage, his past, and his family. Though he desperately tries to repress them, these buried truths manage to make their way to the surface. Once they do, it's going to be a lot harder for him to ignore them.
Quote #5
Zarubin was to [...] dope him with a powerful sedative [...] by pretending it was a medicine or tonic. (2.8.3)
That's a pretty sneaky move, Doc. Even a high-ranking MGB agent like Leo isn't exempt from scrutiny—in fact, his sterling reputation is seen as just cause for suspicion. That's right: looking too good will also get you in trouble in this crazy place.
Quote #6
He couldn't claim the confession itself was a lie—it was an official document as valid and true as every other confession. (2.10.13)
So if we confess to sinking the Titanic, will we get arrested, too? Though this seems like an absurd example, it shows just how detached the MGB is from reality. The fact that there isn't a single person in the organization who stands up to such nonsense is staggering. It's hardly a surprise, though, since standing up for anything will inevitably get you either jailed or killed.