In the Gulag Archipelago, there's a story about Tsar Nicholas asking to be placed in solitary confinement so as to understand the conditions. The author notes t

In the Gulag Archipelago, there's a story about Tsar Nicholas asking to be placed in solitary confinement so as to understand the conditions. The author notes that even this gesture was an indication of at least moral aspiration. Which I believe may fall under the umbrella of noblesse oblige This is in stark contrast to the Organs operating the prisons during the Soviet era who would never submit themselves to torture to understand the plight of the prisoners they sentenced. Anyway, just a fun anecdote, clearly noblesse oblige wasn't enough to stop the people from revolting in several cases.