Akaki Bakradze

The Tergdaleulebi did not seek to shape Georgian life and freedom with borrowed ideas. Instead, they aimed to study deeply the history, character, customs, and temperament of the Georgian people and to build the future on the foundation of that understanding.

— Akaki Bakradze, Niko Nikoladze

European culture nurtured the ideal of personal and national freedom among the conquered peoples of Africa and Asia—it awakened them. Russian culture, on the other hand, offered no such ideal. It produced instead new forms of enslavement, of both the individual and the nation, and found a new path to Russification, under the banner of socialism.

— Akaki Bakradze, The Taming of Literature

“What our ancestors did, we must do the same”—that is a philosophy of Chinese culture. If we follow that, we too will become like the Chinese: stagnant in one place, unable to move forward. If we truly want progress and victory, we must not shy away from naming our flaws. We must speak the truth and call out whatever is false and unworthy. How can we improve ourselves if we do not know where our shortcomings lie?

‘We have been left three sacred inheritances from our forefathers: our homeland, our language, and our faith. If we fail to protect even these, what will we say to the generations that follow?’

‘If we look back, it should only be to better see the road ahead. History is a great teacher because it shows us the missteps of our ancestors, and with that, provides us with the lessons to act wisely.’

— Akaki Bakradze, Ilia Chavchavadze

Winning over and preparing society is itself one of the hardest tasks. In such a condition, anyone who fights with both word and deed often sacrifices themself. That is why anyone who wishes to align word and action must be prepared to offer themselves up. This is the necessary condition.

— Akaki Bakradze, A Soul That Speaks Through Deeds

The gift of imitation is a great blessing, but God went too far for Georgians and gave us too little reason and too much imitation. And so we became like monkeys. Wherever we lack our own judgment, courage, resilience, or will, we try to win the game by copying foreigners, hoping to score someone else’s goal.

— Akaki Bakradze, The Unused, or Tragic Freedom

We’ve known with certainty that Russia has been at war with us. That war began long ago, in 1801. Since then, it has taken many forms, shown many faces. But its purpose has always been the same: to bring Georgia to its knees, to break its spine, and to force it into submission.

— Akaki Bakradze, Tomorrow Will Be Too Late

For a small and vulnerable country like Georgia, political orientation is of decisive importance. The choice still stands before us today: Russia or Europe and America? If we fail to make a final decision, if we drift between one side and the other, Georgia’s fate will be placed directly in the path of danger.

The dogma of shared faith is one of the most dangerous obstacles. It must be said clearly: unless this dogma is erased from Georgia’s political consciousness, we will never break free from Russian dominion.

— Akaki Bakradze, Naiveté

Why do we look at our regions through the eyes of a foreign tourist? Yes, it’s good to admire them as they are indeed magnificent and breathtaking, but everything must also be looked after. How long will we go on merely observing our own country?

The cultural and economic centers of Georgia’s regions should not lag behind Tbilisi.

— Akaki Bakradze, Enough with Visiting Our Regions Like Foreign Tourists

Emotional patriotism has fulfilled its critical role for the country, it awakened and stirred the Georgian people, gave them hope and purpose. But it is now rational patriotism that must carry our nation toward the goals we have set for our future.

— Akaki Bakradze, Year 1989