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"You see, maybe all these feelings come about because one side wants to liberate itself with arms. But in my opinion, it is the good that prevails. You may live to see the day when good prevails — it w…"

"Mikhail Kalashnikov with Elena Joly: The Gun that Changed the World"

"My aim was to create armaments to protect the borders of my motherland. It is not my fault that the Kalashnikov became very well-known in the world; that it was used in many troubled places. I think t…"

"Before attempting to create something new, it is vital to have a good appreciation of everything that already exists in this field."

"I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists. … I would prefer to have invented a machine that people could use and that would help farmers with their work — for example a lawn…"

"I was in the hospital, and a soldier in the bed beside me asked: "Why do our soldiers have only one rifle for two or three of our men, when the Germans have automatics?" So I designed one. I was a sol…"

"I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence."

"Free illustrated virtual guided tour of the Museum of Mikhail Kalashnikov"

"Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, weapons inventor, died on 23 December, aged 94" in The Economist"

"When a young man, I read somewhere the following: God the Almighty said, "All that is too complex is unnecessary, and it is simple that is needed" ... So this has been my lifetime motto – I have been …"

"Whenever I look at TV and I see the weapon I invented to defend my motherland in the hands of these bin Ladens, I ask myself the same question: "How did it get into their hands?" I didn't put it in th…"

"Mikhail Kalashnikov: 'I sleep soundly'"– interview with Mikhail Kalashnikov at the age of 83, in The Guardian"

"Kalashnikov backs weapons control" in BBC News"

"Blame the Nazi Germans for making me become a gun designer … I always wanted to construct agriculture machinery."