"I absolutely reject the accusation that the Soviet leadership intentionally held back the truth about Chernobyl. We simply did not know the whole truth yet."

Mikhail Gorbachev Politics See all quotes by Mikhail Gorbachev →

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“Dangers await only those who do not react to life.”

“Perestroika did not give the people prosperity, something they expected of me, as head of state, based on an ingrained, traditional feeling of dependence. But I did not promise that. I urged people to use this new-found freedom to create prosperity, personal and social prosperity, with their own hands and minds, according to the abilities of each.”

“Gorbachev as McDermott Guest Lecturer at University of Dallas”

“Americans have a severe disease — worse than AIDS. It's called the winner's complex.”

“In the end, the “model” that came into existence in the USSR was not socialist but totalitarian. This is a serious matter to be reflected on by all who seriously aspire to progress for the benefit of the human race.”

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

Resonant Thoughts

"Industry's responsibilities broaden. Its leaders must develop an enlightened and militant statesmanship, for progress in the solution of these problems is vital. If this responsibility is not assumed …"

— Alfred P. Sloan

Business1875–1966

#leadership

"Do you expect me, after all my history as a militant and as one of the Iraqi leaders, to go to an American prison – to go to Guantanamo? I would rather die"

— Tariq Aziz

Politics1936–2015

#leadership

"...it is better to go on striking in the same direction than to move one's forces this way and that."

— Carl von Clausewitz

Military1780–1831

#leadership

"I think it was a prescribed road of sorts. The things that had occurred since his childhood were some coincidences, but he kept on walking. It’s the illustration of a 42-year-long life, sort of an enc…"

— Vasyl Slipak

Music1974–2016

#time