Mikhail Gorbachev

Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev; born 2 March 1931) is a former Soviet statesman. He was the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991 when the party was dissolved. He served as the country's head of state from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991. He was the only General Secretary in the history of the Soviet Union to have been born after the October...
ProfessionWorld Leader
Date of Birth2 March 1931
CityPrivolnoye, Russia
changes courageous difficult knew meant needed people position remember truthful voice
Those who knew him remember how much his position and voice meant in difficult times when all the changes started and when people needed faithful, honest, truthful and courageous words.
mean ideas people
I'm still committed to the socialist idea because the socialist idea, correctly understood, includes the principles of freedom and social justice. It also includes the recognition of the value of democracy. When we speak about social justice, it means that freedom should be used not only in the interest of profit but also in the interest of the advancement of the people who create all values.
peace mean violence
Ideally, peace means the absence of violence. It is an ethical value.
work mean past
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.
mean everyday democracy
More socialism means more democracy, openness and collectivism in everyday life.
acting avoid began century depends disastrous entire learn lessons mistakes relations renew repeating social system whether worst
What the 21st century will be like depends on whether we learn the lessons of the 20th century and avoid repeating its worst mistakes - For example, it would be disastrous if we began to renew our entire system of social relations by acting like a bu
arrange change countries despite determination existed foresight halfway meet normal nuclear proposals reagan relations start statesman stop
Reagan was a statesman who, despite all disagreements that existed between our countries at the time, displayed foresight and determination to meet our proposals halfway and change our relations for the better, stop the nuclear race, start scrapping nuclear weapons, and arrange normal relations between our countries.
devotion example followers remarkable
devotion to his followers is a remarkable example to all of us.
committed democracy dying principles
was committed to the principles of democracy to his dying days.
agree looking trust
While adhering to his convictions, with which one could agree or disagree, he was not dogmatic; he was looking for negotiations and cooperation. And this was the most important thing to me; he had the trust of the American people.
account close conduct country develop experience far neighbours taking whether
Every country should conduct its own reforms, should develop its own model, taking into account the experience of other countries, whether close neighbours or far away countries.
knees pull ultimately
You cannot put Russia down on its knees and hold it there because Russia will ultimately pull out.
What about Jesus Christ? I say that he was a precursor of idealists; a precursor of socialists.
chance elect government people politics
I think we need more young people; we need to elect young people to government. We need to give them a chance, in the media, in politics, in democracy.