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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

“What happened to the Soviet Union happened mainly for domestic reasons. It was a failure of the model based on a command economy and dictatorship. The rejection of freedom and democracy, the decisionmaking monopoly of one party, and the monopoly of one ideology all had a chilling effect on the country. That model turned out to be incapable of making structural changes. It did not open up ways for initiative and was overly centralized.”

“I certainly wouldn't say that we loved the arms race. Trillions of dollars were used to stoke it. For our economy, which was smaller in size than the American economy, it was a burden. But one cannot agree with the statement that the arms race played the key role in the collapse of the Soviet Union.”

Used Race Roles Economy Arms Keys Agree Dollars Unions Size Burden Statements Soviet Collapse Soviet Union Arms Race American Economy Stoke

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“Gentlemen, comrades, do not be concerned about all you hear about Glasnost and Perestroika and democracy in the coming years. They are primarily for outward consumption. There will be no significant internal changes in the Soviet Union, other than for cosmetic purposes. Our purpose is to disarm the Americans and let them fall asleep.”

“...the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear plant...has painfully affected the Soviet people, and shocked the international community. For the first time, we confront the real force of nuclear energy, out of control.”

“It seems that the most important thing about Reagan was his anti-Communism and his reputation as a hawk who saw the Soviet Union as an 'evil empire.'”

Important Seems Evil Saws Important Things Unions Reputation Communism Empires Soviet Soviet Union Hawks Anti Communism

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“The new European Soviet.”

Historical Soviet

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“With Yeltsin, the Soviet Union broke apart, the country was totally mismanaged, the constitution was not respected by the regions of Russia. The army, education and health systems collapsed. People in the West quietly applauded, dancing with and around Yeltsin. I conclude therefore that we should not pay too much attention to what the West is saying.”

People Should Country Pay Attention Too Much Constitution Army Dancing Unions West Russia Broke Regions Soviet Soviet Union Health System

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“The soviet people want full-blooded and unconditional democracy.”

People Want Democracy Unconditional Love Soviet Cold War Unconditional

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev

“Our rockets can find Halley's comet, and fly to Venus with amazing accuracy, but side by side with these scientific and technical triumphs is an obvious lack of efficiency in using scientific achievements for economic needs. Many Soviet household appliances are of poor quality.”

Source: Perestroika: how new is Gorbachev's new thinking? : Mikhail Gorbachev's views and responses from Zbigniew Brezinski ... [and others]

“On the day I became Soviet leader, in March 1985, I had a special meeting with the leaders of the Warsaw Pact countries and told them: 'You are independent, and we are independent. You are responsible for your policies, we are responsible for ours. We will not intervene in your affairs, I promise you.'”

Country Leader Special Policy Promise Responsible Independent Meetings Affair March Soviet I Promise Pact Warsaw Warsaw Pact

Author:Mikhail Gorbachev