Mikhail Gorbachev Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

“A society should never become like a pond with stagnant water, without movement. That's the most important thing.”

“Imagine a country that flies into space, launches Sputniks, creates such a defense system, and it can't resolve the problem of women's pantyhose. There's no toothpaste, no soap powder, not the basic necessities of life. It was incredible and humiliating to work in such a government.”

“Sometimes people ask me why I began perestroika. Were the causes basically domestic or foreign? The domestic reasons were undoubtedly the main ones, but the danger of nuclear war was so serious that it was a no less significant factor.”

“It would be naive to think that the problems plaguing mankind today can be solved with means and methods which were applied or seemed to work in the past.”

“More socialism means more democracy, openness and collectivism in everyday life.”

“Jesus was the first socialist, the first to seek a better life for mankind.”

“America must be the teacher of democracy, not the advertiser of the consumer society. It is unrealistic for the rest of the world to reach the American living standard.”

“I think the environmental problem will be the number one item on the agenda of the 21st century... This is a problem that cannot be postponed.”

“I say again that I am an atheist. I do not believe in God.”

“Sometimes when you stand face to face with someone, you cannot see his face.”