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Quote by Pierre Ryckmans

“The United Nations leave alone those who set Africa on fire, but quarrels with those who do their best to put out the fires.”

Quote by Pierre Ryckmans

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Pierre Ryckmans

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“Cuba and Belgium are both countries of modest size, surrounded by large, powerful and often hostile powers.”

Cuba Belgium Belgian Empire

Author:José Martí

“If you yield so much as an inch of the Congo, your old King will rise from his grave to blame you.”

Congo Leopold Ii Belgium Congo Free State Belgian Congo Belgian Colonial Empire

Author:Leopold II

“A young nation like ours must be tough, always making progress and self-confident.”

Nationalism Belgium Belgian Nationalism

Author:Leopold II

“Nationality is an artificial political grouping of population usually centring around a single language as an expression of traditions and aspirations. Nationality can, however, exist independently of language but states thus formed, such as Belgium or Austria, are far less stable than those where a uniform language is prevalent, as, for example, France or England.”

Language Nationality Belgium

Book:The Passing of the Great Race or the Racial Basis of European History

Source: The Passing of the Great Race or the Racial Basis of European History

“The homeland may be our headquarters, but our objective must be the world. There are no small countries, there are only small minds. When people are great, they can – no matter how narrow the boundaries – achieve great things!”

Leopold Ii Belgium Congo Free State

Author:Leopold II

“In accordance with my duty, I do not pursue any selfish goal. The only favor I ask is to continue to put all my personal earnings to good use in the expansion of our foreign interests. [...] What I have sought in Africa, what I shall find more and more if people follow me, that, together with the progress of civilization, is work for our industrial firms and consequently for their numerous employees.”

Civilization Congo Leopold Ii Belgium Industrial Revolution

Author:Leopold II

“Even more than other nations, a country of craftsmen and traders must make an effort to secure export territories. That patriotic concern has dominated my life and has been instrumental in the creation of the African enterprise. My efforts have not proved fruitless: a young and great state, governed from Brussels, has seen the light of day peacefully. [...] Its administration is in the hands of Belgians, while other compatriots in increasing numbers make their capital bear fruit there.”

Congo Leopold Ii Belgium Brussezls

Author:Leopold II

“Starting a business like the one that has kept me so busy is always difficult and troublesome. I insisted on taking the effort entirely on myself. In order to do his country a service, a king must not shy away from the realization of an undertaking, even if it shows evidence of recklessness. The wealth of a monarch lies in public prosperity.”

Congo Leopold Ii Belgium Congo Free State

Author:Leopold II

“The so terrible Belgian lion, which caused so much trouble to the mighty Caesar, has just been felled by the dwarves of Central Africa. Belgium has capitulated in the face of the meteoric rise of our movement for national liberation. In an instant, we captured independence: we are now independent!”

Congo Belgium Central Africa Belgian Lion

Author:Joseph Kasavubu

“In answer to what has long been awaited, the government in Brussels will announce before Parliament today a program of reforms which will open a decisive period for the future of our African population. I feel that i owe it to the memory of my illustrious predecessors, the founders and conciliators of our enterprise in Africa, to acquaint you personally with the charter and spirit of this program. The purpose of our presence on the African continent was defined by Leopold Ii: To open the backward countries to European civilization, summon their populations to emancipation, to freedom and to progress after having freed them from slavery, disease and misery, continuing these lofty aims, our firm resolution, today is to lead the Congolese people without harmful procrastination, but also without thoughtless haste toward independence, in prosperity and peace.”

Congo Belgium Belgian Congo

Author:Baudouin I