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Mikhail Gorbachev Quotes

Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, born on March 2, 1931, was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He is a significant figure in Soviet history, known for his reform policies of 'New Thinking' and for ending the Cold War.

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Famous Mikhail Gorbachev Quotes

“If the Russian word "perestroika" has easily entered the international lexicon, this is due to more than just interest in what is going on in the Soviet Union. Now the whole world needs restructuring, i.e. progressive development, a fundamental change.”

Ifs World Needs Whole Interest Development Fundamentals Unions International Dues Whole World Progressive Soviet Soviet Union Lexicon Restructuring

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“I will never give up politics. I've tried to give it up three times, but I never made it. Politics mobilizes me. I won't last long if I give it up.”

Ifs Giving Long Made Lasts Three Giving Up Made It Three Times Never Giving Up I Will Never Give Up

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“Humankind has no option but to protect and live in harmony with its natural environment. However, it would be regrettable if in putting an end to revolutionary extremism, we should then come to environmental extremism. We should not forget that all extremes are the same.”

Ifs Should Ends Would Be Natural Forget Environment Protect Harmony Environmental Extremes Revolutionary Humankind Extremism Natural Environment

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“Though representatives of many ethnic groups came together in the United States, English became their common language. Apparently, this was a natural choice. One can imagine what would have happened if members of each nation moving to the U.S. had spoken only their own tongues and refused to learn English.”

Ifs States Together Moving Choices Language Nations Natural United Common United States Imagine Happened Groups Members Tongue Representatives Ethnic Groups Common Language

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“The United States found dozens of billions of dollars for military action in Iraq, so it should certainly be able to find a few billions of dollars to get rid of weapons of mass destruction. I'll assume that since the most powerful nation - the United States - has promised to pay for much of this, then its word will be kept. If it isn't, I don't think we can have a true partnership.”

“If you want Russia to be a real fully developed partner, then America should invest in Russia and activate Russia as a strong nation.”

Ifs Want Should Real America Strong Nations Partners Russia Activate

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“One of the reasons why this country undertook military action in Iraq was that there are quite a few problems here, and perhaps attention needed to be deflected from those problems. It sometimes seems that the U.S. economy works successfully only if it gets a stimulus from the defense industry. So perhaps in addition to showing the power and the might of the United States internationally, another reason was to help the defense industry and to help the U.S. economy recover.”

Ifs Country Sometimes States Reason Helping Problem Seems Might Action United Attention United States Economy Military Industry Needed Iraq Defense Reason Why Stimulus Military Action

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“I remember Secretary of State [George] Shultz one day saying that America is an economic model for the world. I replied to him that America represents 5 percent of the world's population and consumes 30 percent of the world's energy. What if everyone in the world lives like Americans? Where do we get the energy for this standard of living?”

Ifs World States America Remember Energy Economic One Day Models Standards Percent Population What If Secretary Standards Of Living World Life Economic Models

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“We must treat water as if it were the most precious thing in the world, the most valuable natural resource. Be economical with water! Don't waste it! We still have time to do something about this problem before it is too late.”

“If what you have done yesterday still looks big to you. You haven't done much today.”

Source: Mikhail Gorbachev: Prophet of Change : from the Cold War to a Sustainable World

“The market came with the dawn of civilization and it is not an invention of capitalism. ... If it leads to improving the well-being of the people there is no contradiction with socialism.”

People Ifs Wells Civilization Capitalism Invention Socialism Well Being Dawn Contradiction Improving

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“You are fortunate to live here. If I were your President, I would levy a tax on you for living in San Francisco!”

Ifs President Taxes Fortunate San Francisco Bay Area

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“If not me, who? And if not now, when?”

Ifs

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“If people don't like Marxism, they should blame the British Museum.”

People Ifs Should Blame British Museums Marxism British Museum

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev