“It seems to me that one of the best things that is being done in our country is the revolution we are carrying out in education, which includes a general comprehensive education, that includes not just the professional knowledge a person must possess but the minimum of cultural knowledge in order to possess an artistic culture, a general culture and a political culture.[…].”
"When in the today uncertain future of humanity truly profound, imperishable revolutions and social changes are discussed, no one can overlook the achievements that bring us together here. Our people are proud of you."
“A Revolution educates, a Revolution fights ignorance and the lack of culture because ignorance and the lack of culture are the pillars sustaining the entire structure of lies, the entire structure of poverty, the entire structure of exploitation.”
“Today we are seeking for what should be and will be, in our judgment, an educational system that increasingly corresponds to the equality, full justice, self-esteem and moral and social needs of all people in the type of society that Cubans have decided to build.”
“We will turn these military barracks into a school! So we will turn these military barracks into a school that will be attended by hundreds of children, because our true military barracks are in the people; our Revolution is defended by the people! And if we have to fight against a foreign enemy, the whole people will be ready to defend it!”
“…What an extraordinary people this one will be! What a people this one will be, moving along with other peoples of the world! What a people this one will be, which will also be helping, through its own example, many other peoples that are still living in darkness, that are still living in ignorance, that are still living under exploitation!”
“We should proclaim with all of our energies that we have the right to breath pure air, to drink uncontaminated water, to feed ourselves with healthy food….we have the right to be educated, to receive medical assistance, to be less poor when others are ever richer.”
“I have always thought that education is one of the noblest and most human tasks to which anyone can dedicate their life. Without it there is no science, no art, no literature; there isn’t nor would there be today any production, nor economy, health nor wellbeing, quality of life, nor recreation, self-esteem, nor any social recognition possible.”
“Capitalism has been incapable of creating a rational society; it has created a society full of contradictions and absurdities, full of paradoxes; it has created a society that wastes everything, the natural resources, but especially the human resources; a society that alienates everything.”
“Without those years we had to educate, sow ideas, build awareness, instill feelings of solidarity and a generous internationalist spirit, our people would not have had the strength to resist.”