It is very unpleasant to witness, while they are still alive, the example of these writers who end up losing their way through their involvement in politics. Success and talent attract attention; attention brings new friends, and these friends drag them into the ungrateful realm. When we see this in a deceased writer, the process seems less painful; we can simply ignore certain texts, or give them the little weight they deserve. When, however, the writer is still alive, we are not yet able to discern what will remain of his work. If we respect him, we want to read him, and the drastic change in his texts, the squandering of talent for so little, actually hurts. It is best not to give in to the impulse to speak ill of him; after all, a great work, once published, is a tangible achievement that no misfortune and no wretch can ever take away from an author.