Americans have a severe disease - worse than AIDS. It's called the winner's complex.
Interpretation
The quote criticizes an obsession with winning that can have negative consequences.
Mikhail Gorbachev's statement highlights a societal issue in America where the relentless pursuit of winning—often termed the 'winner's complex'—can lead to detrimental effects on individuals and society as a whole. This mindset prioritizes success above all else, potentially fostering selfishness, arrogance, and a lack of empathy, which can be more harmful than physical diseases like AIDS.
In practice
In a speech addressing corporate culture, one could use this quote to discuss the dangers of cutthroat competition.
Gentlemen, comrades, do not be concerned about all you hear about Glasnost and Perestroika and democracy in the coming years. They are primarily for outward consumption. There will be no significant internal changes in the Soviet Union, other than for cosmetic purposes. Our purpose is to disarm the Americans and let them fall asleep.
The soviet people want full-blooded and unconditional democracy.
To me, nature is sacred. Trees are my temples and forests are my cathedrals.
New approaches are needed, new orientations in both thought and action. We must make the transition to a new civilization...We are talking of a transition toward a new civilization. No one knows what it will be like. What is important is to orient in that direction... I am convinced that a new civilization will inevitably take on certain features that are characteristic of, or inherent in, the socialist ideal.
According to Lenin, socialism and democracy are indivisible.... The essence of perestroika lies in the fact that it unites socialism with democracy and revives the Leninist concept of socialist construction both in theory and in practice. We want more socialism and, therefore, more democracy.
Democracy is the wholesome and pure air without which a socialist public organization cannot live a full-blooded life.
Much as we deplore our condition in life, nothing would make us more satisfied with it than the changing of places, for a few days, with our neighbors.
I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.
they may all be drunk at my place, but they're all honest, and though we do lie-because I lie, too-in the end we'll lie our way to the truth
I want to live as long as possible, just to see how stupid it gets.
Excessive economic, social and cultural inequalities among peoples arouse tensions and conflicts, and are a danger to peace.
I believe that the mind can be permanently profaned by the habit of attending to trivial things, so that all our thoughts shall be tinged with triviality.
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