Vladimir Putin

Even if we do not always agree on every aspect, nobody should take this as an excuse to declare us as enemies.

The worst thing for a politician is to try and cling to power by every possible means, and focus only on that.

I myself know some people who are gay. We’re on friendly terms. I’m not prejudiced in any way.

There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy.

The threat of mutual destruction has always restrained participants of the international arena, prevented leading military powers from making hasty moves, and compelled participants to respect each other. U.S. withdrawal from treaties on anti-ballistic missiles is an attempt to put an end to strategic parity, but we will respond to this.

Russian democracy is the power of the Russian people with their own traditions of national self-government, and not the realisation of standards foisted on us from outside.

I am Syrian, I was made in Syria, I have to live in Syria and die in Syria.

Social Security is actually in pretty good shape despite what everybody screams about. But if you can defund it, it won’t be in good shape. And there is a standard technique of privatization, namely defund what you want to privatize.

The goal of Socialism is Communism.

I believe that the presidential term should be limited.

No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.

He who votes does not have power. He who counts the votes has power.

An educational system should cultivate from kindergarten to graduate school, and in the best cases sometimes does, and that leads to people who are, at least by my standards, well educated.?

You’re thinking of Eurpoe as Germany and France. I don’t. I think that’s old Europe.

We must understand that governments cannot create real jobs. Only entrepreneurs can do that.

[on Michelle Obama] She’s fundamentally honest – goes out there, speaks her mind, jokes. She doesn’t parse her words or select them with an antenna for political correctness.

There can be no bosses in our country except the people. The job of the government is to serve, not to dominate.

Now, people when I say that look at me and say, ‘What are you talking about, Joe? You’re telling me we have to go spend money to keep from going bankrupt?’. The answer is yes, that’s what I’m telling you.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the undecideds could go one way or another.

Demographics aren’t destiny. Our culture isn’t the work of one race or religion. To suggest otherwise is to contradict our ideals and to doubt their power.

I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.