Finland

🇫🇮Linus Torvalds

Technology

b. 1969

"Standards are paper. I use paper to wipe my butt every day. That's how much that paper is worth."

"My respect for Yle is now exactly zero, which of course does not differ from yours for me. So now we're even."

🇫🇮Mirkka Rekola

Literature

1931–2014

"When you grow to become visible in the world / and build a nest / above your head / there are times when you fly up there / and it is light and swims in the air"

🇫🇮Jyrki Katainen

Politics

b. 1971

"We are not able to find out, what were gathered in these campaigns."

🇫🇮Jaani Peuhu

Music

b. 1978

"Today we play guitar. We shall not speak or write. We just play and maybe drink some blood of virgins."

"In the land of tennis Roger is the king."

🇫🇮Mikko Hyppönen

Military

b. 1969

"Rarely is anyone thanked for the work they did to prevent the disaster that didn't happen."

🇫🇮Eino Leino

Journalism

1878–1926

"TUURI: Let not evermore, / let the gods celebrate / with mortal people! / The gods have long festivals, / man's life is fleeting, / swift as a wheel's turn ..."

🇫🇮Juhani Tamminen

Education

b. 1950

"Onnittelen. My fuckingratulations. Piste."

🇫🇮Paavo Väyrynen

Politics

b. 1946

"Everyone has their own strengths. It just happens to be that in me, all these strengths are combined."

🇫🇮Kimi Räikkönen

b. 1979

"No. And you're better do it quickly, otherwise I go inside."

🇫🇮Heidi Hautala

Politics

b. 1955

"There is always the risk in parliament that political opinions might be expressed."

🇫🇮Pentti Linkola

Science

1932–2020

"The difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter is a matter of perspective: it all depends on the observer and the verdict of history."

🇫🇮Peter Sunde

Politics

b. 1978

"The prosecutor have a problem distinguishing from megabits and megabytes."

🇫🇮Mikko Lindström

Music

b. 1976

"I have had a very difficult last 5 years or so. A lot of shit going on in my personal life. A lot of shit that made me very fucking angry. This album is the result. A healthy way to let it all out."

🇫🇮Jean Sibelius

Music

1865–1957

"In his work a means of escape has been found from outmoded romanticism on the one hand and from a barren objectivity on the other."

"My opponent is tough but I'm tougher, in fact I wrote the book about toughness!"

🇫🇮Suvi Koponen

b. 1988

"I don't care about weight things, but it's more important to me that I'm happy and I feel good. What happens to my body is going to happen and people have to live with that or I'll quit this job."

🇫🇮Uuno Kailas

Literature

1901–1933

"The border cracks open facing Asia and the East."

🇫🇮Väinö Linna

Literature

1920–1992

"'Finnish president Risto Ryti and the National Orchestra proudly present ... a polka: "Up Shit Creek Without a Fucking Paddle".'"

🇫🇮Timo Soini

Politics

b. 1962

"That’s a political decision. Finland has full control of its borders"

🇫🇮Alexander Stubb

Politics

b. 1968

"On same-sex marriage It’s a question of human rights, gender equality and equality."

🇫🇮Niilo Paasivirta

b. 1960

"WASHING MAHINES WITH TRANSPARTENT LID AROUSE SINFUL THOUGHTS! As lingerie rotates around the washing machine, if you watch it, it arouses sexual thoughts in your mind!"

🇫🇮Pauli Hanhiniemi

Music

b. 1964

"Siipeen jos sain: The one ill-used by the world knows that his disgrace will pass in the end."

"I never seem to have excuses good enough to not to create every day. I cannot help it, creating is like breathing for me, involuntary, necessary, and the fuller I do it, the more alive I feel."

"I paint what you love to hate and what you hate to love."

🇫🇮Martti Ahtisaari

Politics

1937–2023

"Martti Ahtisaari's Project Syndicate op/eds"

🇫🇮Yrjö Kallinen

Politics

1886–1976

"I promised to myself that I will never again obey anyone or any authority, government, gods or angels in anything else than in what I accept as the right or the best possible thing to do."

🇫🇮Ilmari Kianto

Literature

1874–1970

"Are they human beings? Ask from those who have flown through the fires of hell if the red-Russkies are humans! Our boys outright deny it!"

🇫🇮Veikko Vennamo

Politics

1913–1997

"We are oppressed and oppressed but one day we will rise."