"The final and definite stage of the war for national Independence that our people had been fighting since 1868 started on July 26. Thus for us, workers and farmers, for us, this commemoration in the city of Santiago de Cuba has aroused a deep emotion.”
Quotes
“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!”
“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.”
“And this was not only the lesson of the 26 of July, it has been the lesson learned throughout our history: from Céspedes, Máximo Gómez and Agramonte, to Martí and Maceo”.
“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”.
“The struggle of our people for independence did not start that day, that day resumed the heroic struggle started in 1868 by Cespedes and carried forward by that exceptional man whose centenary was being celebrated that year, the man that was the mastermind of the attack on the Moncada: José Martí.”
“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.”
“Rectification means looking for something new; 26 July 1953 was rectification. We struggled to erase old things, to open new paths, to make a revolution, to create a new life; that is rectification today. Rectification has a meaning, a truly broad meaning. I am happy and very encouraged by what I am seeing. I am pleased with the results I am seeing, despite the fact that I know we can still do much more. We have much more ahead.”
“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. Those who believe that - the empire and its servile mercenaries -, are mistaken if they believe that one day the blood of the good was shed in vain. Our revolution, our people, and our party can never be underestimated!”
“If we had followed the plans of others, we would not be meeting here today. There would not have been a 26 July. There would not have been a socialist revolution in this hemisphere. There still would not have been a socialist revolution in this hemisphere. According to conventional theory, this revolution could not have come about. That was the theory. Let this be understood very well: That was the theory. That is what the books said. That is what the manuals said.”