Lech Walesa
Lech Walesa
Lech Wałęsa; born 29 September 1943) is a retired Polish politician and labor activist. He co-founded and headed Solidarity, the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland from 1990 to 1995...
NationalityPolish
ProfessionWorld Leader
Date of Birth29 September 1943
CityPopowo, Poland
CountryPoland
war way nuclear
The politicians always told us that the Cold War stand-off could only change by way of nuclear war. None of them believed that such systemic change was possible.
education opportunity rights
I belong to the generation of workers who, born in the villages and hamlets of rural Poland, had the opportunity to acquire education and find employment in industry, becoming in the course conscious of their rights and importance in society.
different borders generations
Irrespective of todays judgment and the price we had to pay in this generation, we were able to close an epoch of divisions, different blocs and borders, opening the way for an era of globalization.
rights effort hatred
The defense of our rights and our dignity, as well as efforts never to let ourselves to be overcome by the feeling of hatred - this is the road we have chosen.
fall speaks-out silence
Let the veil of silence fall presently over what happened afterwards. Silence, too, can speak out.
voice fire burning
Everyone wants a voice in human freedom. There's a fire burning inside all of us.
faith fear
Deep faith eliminates fear.
wife sometimes fear-god
I only fear God, and my wife - sometimes.
authority chosen
Authority must be respected and chosen wisely.
goal peaceful way
Our firm conviction that ours is a just cause and that we must find a peaceful way to attain our goals gave us the strength and the awareness of the limits beyond which we must not go.
fall balance world
We must be courageous but also reasonable. The world admires us for walking a tightrope without falling off. It asks us to keep our balance.
hands historical wheels
He who puts out his hand to stop the wheel of history will have his fingers crushed.
technology development individualism
Communism is a monopolistic system, economically and politically. The system suppresses individual initiative, and the 21st century is all about individualism and freedom. The development of technology supported these directions.
feelings bitterness filled
Our national history has so often filled us with bitterness and the feeling of helplessness.