"Cuba’s attitude, and its response to the empire’s provocations, will be entirely peaceful, but we shall strike back with all the strength of our moral fortitude and we shall persist in our determination to fight to the death, against whatever act of belligerence of the restless and brutal empire that threatens us. Let no one for a minute forget the oath of Maceo, our Bronze Titan, when he said that whosoever attempts to take possession of Cuba shall conquer but the blood-soaked ground beneath his feet, if he does not first perish in battle".
"The duty of this new generation of revolutionary men and women is becoming an example of modest leaders, studious and tireless fighters for socialism. In the barbaric era of consumer societies, to overcome the capitalist production system that fosters and promotes selfish interests among human beings is, no doubt, a difficult challenge".
“In the period we are going through, but progressively leaving behind, in Cuba today we have learned that a great number of variables are possible in the development of the economy and the solution of problems. It can be done if the state plays its role putting first the interests of the nation and the people”.
“Not only is knowledge a necessity for thinking and culture but it is also a revolutionary necessity that all peoples should know about the history of the world.”
“That is man’s marvellous virtue, that he is capable of giving it all, of giving his life, of giving all for an idea, for a cause, for a noble sentiment, for a spirit of solidarity.”
“Our Revolution has four things and they precisely constitute reasons to be admired by the Cubans: this is, in the first place, a revolution that has people; it is a revolution where the government of the republic can say that it has an army; it is a revolution that makes laws that are truly revolutionary.”
“I have always lived, and I will continue to live quietly, because I know how to defend the rights of my people with dignity, as well as the honor of the small, poor and weak nations, and I have always been moved by a profound sense of justice. I am a revolutionary and I will die being one.”
“Man’s consciousness does not determine the objective conditions. It is the other way around. Only after grasping this can we speak of revolution. Beautiful words, needed to convey ideas, do not suffice; profound reflection is needed.”
"We will never renounce the principles we made ours in the struggle to bring all justice to our homeland by putting an end to the exploitation of man by man, inspired by the history of mankind and by the enlightened theoreticians and promoters of a socialist system of production and distribution of wealth, the only system capable of creating a truly fair and human society Marx, Engels, and later, Lenin."
"I am very aware, and I have been aware throughout my life, that Bolívar was the man whom José Martí admired the most. Bolívar, Venezuela and their people were always what Cubans admired the most. Bolívar, Venezuela, their people and their feats always inspired my dreams as a Latin American and Cuban revolutionary.’’