Fidel Castro, the father of the Cuban revolution and one of the protagonists of the 20th century has passed away on Friday night, at 90 years old. His brother, president Raúl Castro gave an official announcement on Cuban television confirming Castro’s passing without providing further details.
“Dear people of Cuba,” Raúl began. “It is with great sorrow that I have to inform you, our friends in the Americas and the world, that today, November 25, 2016, at 10:29pm, Cuban Revolution’s commander in chief, Fidel Castro Ruz, has passed away.”
“In compliance with the will of our comrade Fidel, his remains will be cremated in the first hours of tomorrow, Saturday November 26. The committee in charge of organizing funerals will provide our people with detailed information about the posthumous tribute’s organization, which will honor the founder of the Cuban Revolution. Ever onward to victory!”
A controversial figure, Fidel was hated by many and admired by many. Here are some of his most popular quotes throughout the years.
“A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past.”
“They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?”
“I find capitalism repugnant. It is filthy, it is gross, it is alienating... because it causes war, hypocrisy and competition.”
“The revolution is a dictatorship of the exploited against the exploiters.”
“I think that a man should not live beyond the age when he begins to deteriorate, when the flame that lighted the brightest moment of his life has weakened.”
“Men do not shape destiny, Destiny produces the man for the hour.”
“Capitalism is using its money; we socialists throw it away.”
“The revenues of Cuban state-run companies are used exclusively for the benefit of the people, to whom they belong.”
“No thieves, no traitors, no interventionists! This time the revolution is for real!”
“I began revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action.”
“Condemn me, it does not matter: history will absolve me.”
“Capitalism has neither the capacity, nor the morality, nor the ethics to solve the problems of poverty.”
“One of the greatest benefits of the revolution is that even our prostitutes are college graduates.”
“...Quality of life lies in knowledge, in culture. Values are what constitute true quality of life, the supreme quality of life, even above food, shelter and clothing.”
“The duty of every revolutionary is to make revolution.”
“Fellow workers and peasants, this is the socialist and democratic revolution of the working people, with the working people, and for the working people. And for this revolution of the working people, by the working people, and for the working people we are prepared to give our lives.”
“We are not politicians. We made our revolution to get the politicians out.”
“If surviving assassination attempts were an Olympic event, I would win the gold medal.”
“There are enough doctors on the planet so that nobody has to die for lack of care.”
“The percentage of mentally disturbed people in the United States is very high. From the time the American gets up in the morning, he feels as if someone is trying to influence his will in some way: he is a person with a thousand pressures. The Americans live under a great strain... and have great feelings of frustration.”
“A large percentage of those living in developed societies are told what brand of soda they should drink, what cigarettes they should smoke, what clothes and shoes they should wear, what they should eat and what brand of food they should buy. Their political ideas are supplied in the same way. Every year a trillion dollars is spent on advertising.”
“I've always considered Christ to be one of the greatest revolutionaries in the history of humanity.”
“A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past.”
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