Mikhail Gorbachev

We are not abandoning our convictions, our philosophy or traditions, nor do we urge anyone to abandon theirs.

I don't think Russia is setting this as a goal; I don't think this should be Russia's goal. I think even the United States doesn't need to be a superpower. China doesn't need to be a superpower. It's a different world.

I am a Communist, a convinced Communist! For some that may be a fantasy. But to me it is my main goal.

There should be competition and exchanges between different countries, but there are certainly certain universal values, and that is freedom and democracy.

More socialism means more democracy, openness and collectivism in everyday life.

America must be the teacher of democracy, not the advertiser of the consumer society. It is unrealistic for the rest of the world to reach the American living standard.

I think we need more young people; we need to elect young people to government. We need to give them a chance, in the media, in politics, in democracy.

Political leaders still think things can be done through force, but that cannot solve terrorism. Backwardness is the breeding ground of terror, and that is what we have to fight.

The soviet people want full-blooded and unconditional democracy.

Democracy must learn to defend itself.

Democracy is the wholesome and pure air without which a socialist public organization cannot live a full-blooded life.

I paid too heavy a price for perestroika.