“A brilliant future lies ahead and we are working for that future. Nothing can defeat us. They can wipe our country off the map but they cannot wipe the Revolution off the face of the country. There will be not people that surrenders, no revolutionary who yields. We have not done so and we will never do so.”
Quotes
"This Revolution, which is socialist, and which is guided by the principle of giving to each according to his work, has not forgotten and cannot forget, or it wouldn’t be the Revolution, nor would it deserve the name if it intended to provide for a handicapped person according to their work. No, that is why there are those who work and those who can work, to provide for those people who cannot. Everything has to be done for a child who isn’t even a month old; this child has to be given everything".
“A revolution is the triumph of virtue over vice, the triumph of honor over dishonor, the triumph of moral and patriotic integrity over mercenary impulses and vice”.
“Thus, a marvelous avenue is opening leading to the education of the youngest generations in the appreciation and sensitivity towards the arts while paving the way for the ambitious purpose of attaining a widespread comprehensive general culture for all of our people.”
"Cuba is today a source of inspiration and a beacon of hope for many. The revolution’s humanitarian goals and quest for justice are a point of reference for those who believe that a better world is possible and can replace the world of savagery, violence, egotism and squandering which the powerful have created".
"In a spirit of confessions, I could say that when I finished studying in this university, I thought I was very revolutionary and basically, I was just starting on a much longer path. If at that time I felt that I was a revolutionary or a socialist, if I had absorbed all the ideas that made me who I am, and I could be nothing other than a revolutionary. I assure you today, in all modesty, that I feel ten times, twenty times, even a hundred times more revolutionary than I was then. If at that time I was willing to give up my life, today I am a thousand times more willing to give up my life for the revolution."
"We have to be resolute: either we defeat these deviations and strengthen the Revolution by destroying any of the illusions that the empire may have, or we can rather say: either we radically defeat these problems or we die. We must repeat the motto: Patria o Muerte! (Homeland or Death!) This is all very serious and we must use all necessary forces".
"(...) been much disorganization in terms of construction and we’ve been inefficient. I feel embarrassed about how long it's taken to construct many works. This sector must make a very serious effort to organize itself, to overcome weaknesses in many areas. We are dealing, no doubt, with some delayed activity; organizations, construction crews and other sectors working on this task should be required to make a more serious effort. Not all problems are easy to solve. One of them has to do with the workforce, it does not suffice. Productivity is low, construction workers and their bosses delude themselves many times. Still, we are hopeful. Construction materials and equipment are being developed; nothing has been neglected in the area of construction. We have sometimes approached our friends in the construction sector and said to them: "If you don’t start making progress, we’ll have to hire foreign construction companies for some works". That’s almost inconceivable; but, again, there were many inconceivable things before. I think we haven't been especially happy in the area of construction in the course of our Revolution and that's been the area where we've faced the most problems (...)"
"Nearly 50 years, the longest blockade in history. Thank you, Yankee Empire! You made us grow; you made us reach new heights along the years! You crowned the blood spilt by all of the Cubans who have fought and died here and elsewhere, with the shameful defeat of your cynical blockade, your cynical attempts to destroy us!"
"I have no doubt whatsoever that our people and our Revolution will fight to the very end to defend these ideas and measures, as well as any others that are necessary to safeguard this historic process. Imperialism will never succeed in crushing Cuba. The Battle of Ideas will go forth".
"José Martí, the Apostle of Independence, a genius of the ideas, and of the noblest ideas that can ever be conceived; the National Hero of our homeland, whose ideas inspired the Centennial Generation and today inspire and will continue to inspire all of our people more and more."
"Imperialism will never succeed in crushing Cuba".