Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev; born 2 March 1931) is a former Soviet statesman. He was the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991 when the party was dissolved. He served as the country's head of state from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991. He was the only General Secretary in the history of the Soviet Union to have been born after the October...
ProfessionWorld Leader
Date of Birth2 March 1931
CityPrivolnoye, Russia
economic-models america what-if
I remember Secretary of State [George] Shultz one day saying that America is an economic model for the world. I replied to him that America represents 5 percent of the world's population and consumes 30 percent of the world's energy. What if everyone in the world lives like Americans? Where do we get the energy for this standard of living?
heavy paid
I paid too heavy a price for perestroika.
writing capricious creatures
History is a capricious creature. It depends on who writes it.
used humans human-beings
Nature is reminding us that it used to exist without human beings.
party people guilt
The guilt of Stalin and his immediate entourage before the Party and the people for the mass repressions and lawlessness they committed is enormous and unforgivable.
environmental would-be revolutionary
Humankind has no option but to protect and live in harmony with its natural environment. However, it would be regrettable if in putting an end to revolutionary extremism, we should then come to environmental extremism. We should not forget that all extremes are the same.
government order citizens
A new world order is taking shape so fast that governments as well as private citizens find it difficult just to absorb the gallop of events.
government civilization community
The emerging 'environmentalization' of our civilization and the need for vigorous action in the interest of the entire global community will inevitably have multiple political consequences. Perhaps the most important of them will be a gradual change in the status of the United Nations. Inevitably, it must assume some aspects of a world government.
mistake arrogance sometimes
Sometimes its difficult to accept, to recognise ones own mistakes, but one must do it. I was guilty of overconfidence and arrogance, and I was punished for that.
atheist believe believe-in-god
I say again that I am an atheist. I do not believe in God.
views one-day too-much
The model of the consumer society is something that will one day end. My personal view is that too much consumption is wrong.
life-and-love accomplished has-beens
My life's work has been accomplished. I did all that I could.
russia earth forests
The forests of Russia and Brazil are the lungs of the Earth.
teacher america democracy
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.