"(…..) What are they this July 26? They are an indestructible path linking the thought, the heroism and the will to struggle of that imperishable bulwark with whose independence Martí wanted to prevent, and did prevent, the powerful and expansionist neighbour to the North from spreading through the Antilles and falling with that additional force on our American lands."
"(...) it was clear that that the 26th July Movement had the overwhelming support and sympathy of the people (APPLAUSE); it was clear that the 26th July Movement had the almost unanimous support of Cuba's youth"
“In only one thing are we still like those of 1953. We have the same faith in the future of the fatherland, the same faith in the qualities of our people, the same confidence in victory, the same happiness at being able to dream of all that which will become true tomorrow in addition to those dreams of yesterday which have already been fulfilled.”
“What a great satisfaction and what emotion we feel today on 26 July to think that in such a dignified way our people are paying homage to the martyrs of the revolution, to the men who fell. What better reward, what better reply, what better fruit than this nation!”
“United we will carry this cause till the end! Us, and behind us, the youth, and behind the youth, the coming generations! With faith in the people, faith in the future, with the faith of the 26 of July, with the faith Granma and Sierra Maestra gave us, that people has never failed and never will!”
“The 26th of July has become an historic date in the annals of our country's long and heroic struggle for its freedom. This great honour is certainly not what those of us who attempted to storm this fortress were seeking. No revolutionary fights with an eye on the day when the events stemming from his action will be commemorated with honour. Marti said that duty must be performed simply and naturally. The performance of a duty led us to this action without anyone thinking about the glories and honours of this struggle.”
“To those who at one time believed that spilt blood was useless, that Moncada led to adversity and not to victory, that the Granma was useless, or that the war in the mountains was useless, we say today it is proven that the sacrifice was never useless. Those who believe that one day all this effort, all this heroism, and all this blood will be useless should know that today more than ever before and with greater confidence than ever before we can say the sacrifice has been absolutely fruitful and absolutely useful.
“It is not the will of one man or a group of men that has been executed; it is the will of an entire people what has been executed!”
“As a matter of fact, only a great people, only a people aware of themselves, only a brave people can move forward and write the page in history that we are writing today. We shall never give up writing this page; we shall continue to write it. The Cubans will continue to write this page!”
“The great lesson of the 26 of July is the importance of the masses in the struggle, the importance of the masses in the revolutionary struggle, and the value of consistency and perseverance in the effort. Not to lose courage in the face of a setback, in the face of any hardship! And this was not only the lesson of the 26 of July, it has been the lesson learned throughout history: from Céspedes, Máximo Gómez and Agramonte, to Martí and Maceo”.