Mikhail Gorbachev

“If not me, who? And if not now, when?”

“The market is not an invention of capitalism. It has existed for centuries. It is an invention of civilization.”

“We can't go on living like this.”

“Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity, in the comparison and conciliation of differences.”

“What we need is Star Peace and not Star Wars.”

“History punishes those who come late.”

“Democracy is the wholesome and pure air without which a socialist public organization cannot live a full-blooded life.”

“It is better to discuss things, to argue and engage in polemics than make a historic mistake.”

“We are all passengers on one ship, the Earth, and we must not allow it to be wrecked. There will be no second Noah's Ark.”

“The Cold War is over.”

“Perestroika is an urgent necessity arising from the profound processes of development in our socialist society. This society is ripe for change.”

“A people's memory is the ultimate repository of its history.”

“More socialism means more democracy, openness, and collectivism in everyday life.”

“I began my political life in the 'komsomol.' The komsomol is a political youth organization.”

“We need a new way of thinking, a new mentality. This should be a peaceful mentality.”

“It seems to me that the European Union is a modern-day prototype for a global order.”

“Our rockets can find Halley's comet, and fly to Venus with amazing accuracy. But side by side with these scientific and technical triumphs is an obvious lack of efficiency...”