Joseph Stalin

The art of leadership is a serious matter. One must not lag behind a movement, because to do so is to become isolated from the masses. But one must not rush ahead, for to rush ahead is to lose contact with the masses. He who wished to lead a movement must conduct a fight on two fronts–against those who lag behind and those who rush ahead.

We desire to give the Soviet people absolute liberty of voting for those they desire to elect, those whom they trust to ensure their interests.

Nobody respects a country with a poor army, but everybody respects a country with a good army. I raise my toast to the Finnish army

Our new Soviet constitution will, in my opinion, be the most democratic constitution of all those existing in the world.

I trust no one, not even myself.

This war is not as in the past: whoever occupies a territory also imposes his own social system.

If inflation continues to soar, you’re going to have to work like a dog just to live like one.

The masses go into a revolution not with a prepared plan of social reconstruction, but with a sharp feeling that they cannot endure the old regime. Only the guiding layers of a class have a political program, and even this still requires the test of events and the approval of the masses.

Yes, life in Chechnya so far looks more like a life after a natural disaster.

I think George W. Bush has a warm, engaging personality. But, you know, the presidency is more than just a popularity contest.

The most important thing is that Milosevic agreed to sit at the negotiating table with the Kosovo Albanians.

The message will be very, very clear that we are campaigning to defend and extend workers rights and trade union rights in Britain.

In my personal opinion, Russia is no less democratic than it used to be. It is a democratic country. It is democratic enough.

We are not going to close anything… I also worked in the security services and know it is easiest to ban, and harder to find civilized solutions. Therefore, I’m going to urge all my colleagues to take this route, the route of security and law enforcement agencies using modern methods to combat offences, including terrorism, without restricting freedoms including on the Internet.

Your commanders have ordered you to storm the White House and to arrest me. But I as the elected President of Russia give you the order to turn your tanks and not to fight against your own people.

The United States is not only the strongest, but also the most terrified country.

The media may feel obligated to carry extremely dubious stories and mute criticism in order not to offend their sources and disturb a close relationship. It is very difficult to call authorities on whom one depends for daily news liars, even if they tell whoppers.

We won with poorly educated. I love the poorly educated.

The logical thing is to implement the Arab Defense Agreement.

We live in a democracy and the Government has to be responsive to Parliament.

We should not just consume hydrocarbon fuel but use it to develop nuclear energy, hydro power and renewable energy sources.