Americans have a severe disease - worse than AIDS. It's called the winner's complex.
Mikhail GorbachevRead
Democracy is the wholesome and pure air without which a socialist public organization cannot live a full-blooded life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Democracy is essential for the vitality of a socialist society.
In this quote, Mikhail Gorbachev emphasizes the importance of democracy as a fundamental component of a thriving socialist public organization. He argues that without the freedom and openness provided by democratic principles, a socialist system cannot function effectively or support the welfare of its citizens.
Themes
DemocracySocialismGovernmentPublic OrganizationPolitics
In practice
Example use cases
This is a great quote to use in a discussion about the importance of democratic values in today's political climate.
More from Mikhail Gorbachev
All quotes βGentlemen, 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.
Mikhail GorbachevRead
The soviet people want full-blooded and unconditional democracy.
Mikhail GorbachevRead
To me, nature is sacred. Trees are my temples and forests are my cathedrals.
Mikhail GorbachevRead
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.
Mikhail GorbachevRead
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.
Mikhail GorbachevRead
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Ballots are the rightful and peaceful successors to bullets.
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