Lennart Meri

“The situation is shitty, but it is our fertilizer for the future.”

“Estonia’s only natural resource is its own grey matter.”

“Europe is not a geography, it is a unity of principles.”

“History is a science that studies the past, to understand the present and foresee the future.”

“We are a small nation, but we have a great spirit.”

“The border between Europe and Russia is not just a line on the map; it is a border of civilizations.”

“Freedom is not a gift, but a responsibility.”

“To be free is to choose one's own path, even if it is difficult.”

“A nation’s memory is its most valuable asset.”

“Estonians have to smile. We can do it.”

“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

“You have to jump into the water to learn how to swim.”

“We have come out of the shadows. Now we must learn to live in the light.”

“Politics is the art of the possible, but it must be guided by the principles of the impossible.”

“Democracy is a dialogue, not a monologue.”

“A small state must be wiser and smarter than a large one.”

“Estonia's place is in Europe, and Europe's place is in Estonia.”

“We must not be afraid of our own history, however painful it may be.”

“Language is the key to culture.”