Speaker François Mitterrand on the laureate:

‘Even when the “power of the powerless”—this concept stems from you—raised you to take great responsibility for Czechoslovakia in one of the most important moments in the history of this country, nobody can forget the author and philosopher in you. […] As an initiator and witness of a revolt, decisive for Europe, against oppression, fear and lies, you chose to be guided by morality in politics, science and economics.’