100+ Influential Quotes by Nikita Khrushchev: Insights on Politics and Power
Nikita Khrushchev, a pivotal figure in the history of the Soviet Union, is celebrated for his engaging leadership style and audacious proclamations. Serving as the First Secretary of the Communist Party from 1953 to 1964, his time in office was characterized by substantial political and social transformations, including the significant process of de-Stalinization and the tense Cuban Missile Crisis. His words echo through history, full of wisdom, insight, and sometimes contentious viewpoints.
This collection of Nikita Khrushchev quotes provides a fascinating glimpse into the thoughts of a man who led the Soviet Union during one of the most tumultuous eras in global politics. Whether you seek inspirational quotes that reflect his visionary outlook or the most impactful quotes that convey his distinct view on international relations, this compilation is a treasure trove of thought-provoking insights. Explore the provocative quotes by Nikita Khrushchev to uncover the wit, wisdom, and revolutionary ideas of a leader who shaped the course of history.
- “Politicians are the same all over; they promise to build a bridge, even where there is no river.”
- “Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!”
- “Economics is a subject that does not greatly respect one’s wishes.”
- “When you are skinning your customers, you should leave some skin on to grow again so that you can skin them again.”
- “If you live among wolves, you have to act like a wolf.”
- “The press is our chief ideological weapon.”
- “Comrades! We must decisively abolish the cult of the individual once and for all.”
- “If you cannot catch a bird of paradise, better take a wet hen.”
- “There are no miracles in politics.”
- “Call it what you will; incentives are what get people to work harder.”
- “Support from United States rulers is akin to the support that the rope gives to a hanged man.”
- “We say the name of God, but that is merely a matter of habit.”
- “Bombs do not choose; they will hit everything.”
- “Historians are dangerous people; they have the power to upset everything.”
- “He who cannot eat horse meat need not do so; let him eat pork.”
- “I once said, ‘We will bury you,’ and I got into trouble for it. Of course, we will not bury you with a shovel; your own working class will bury you.”
- “You Americans are so gullible. No, you won’t accept communism outright, but we’ll keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you finally wake up and realize you already have communism. We won’t have to fight you; we’ll weaken your economy until you fall like overripe fruit into our hands.”
- “Berlin is the testicles of the West; every time I want the West to scream, I squeeze on Berlin.”
- “The United States now sleeps under a Soviet moon.”
- “Life is short; live it up.”
- “Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy more tunnel.”
- “I want to speak with these people because they remain in power while you change all the time.”
- “The press is our chief ideological weapon.”
- “We have buried the putrid corpse of liberty.”
- “The purpose of the United Nations should be to protect the essential sovereignty of nations, whether large or small.”
- “If you start throwing hedgehogs under me, I shall throw a couple of porcupines under you.”
- “Everyone has a right to be stupid, but some people abuse that privilege.”
- “If you feed the people cannons, soon you will be left with nothing but a skeleton army.”
- “If you don’t like us, don’t accept our invitations, and don’t invite us to visit you; we don’t want to see you any more than you want to see us.”
- “The main task of the state apparatus is to thoroughly improve the efficiency of all levels of production, enhance the culture and ideological maturity of the working class, and ensure rapid economic growth.”
- “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
- “Revolutions are the locomotives of history.”
- “A bad peace is even worse than war.”
- “One of the major principles of the movement of our people in all directions is unity—the unity of the working class and the collective farm peasantry, the unity of all Soviet people.”
- “In a fight, you don’t stop to choose your cudgels.”
- “Some politicians are like quicksilver; they change their minds from moment to moment.”
- “Let us not forget who we are; we are all the sons and daughters of the Great October Revolution.”
- “Politicians can do more good by encouraging the free enterprise system than by hindering it.”
- “The Soviet Union will not tolerate any interference in the internal affairs of other states.”
- “We must take a sincere and solemn vow to always uphold peace, so that our people may enjoy the blessings of quietness and prosperity.”
- “There are no invincible armies.”
- “No matter how humble a man’s beginnings, he achieves great stature by the judgments he makes.”
- “We have a common enemy, and that is poverty.”
- “The more bombers, the less room for doves of peace.”
- “We say the name of God, but that is only a habit.”
- “Politicians can do more good by encouraging the free enterprise system than they can by hindering it.”
- “The purpose of the United Nations should be to protect the essential sovereignty of nations, large and small.”
- “If you start throwing hedgehogs under me, I shall throw a couple of porcupines under you.”
- “If one cannot catch a bird of paradise, better take a wet hen.”
- “The main task of the state apparatus is to thoroughly improve the efficiency of all levels of production, enhance the culture and ideological maturity of the working class, and ensure rapid economic growth.”
- “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
- “Revolutions are the locomotives of history.”
- “A bad peace is even worse than war.”
- “One of the major principles of the movement of our people in all directions is unity, unity of the working class and the collective farm peasantry, unity of all Soviet people.”
- “In a fight, you don’t stop to choose your cudgels.”
- “Some politicians are like quicksilver; they change their minds from moment to moment.”
- “Let us not forget who we are; we are all the sons and daughters of the Great October Revolution.”
- “Politicians can do more good by encouraging the free enterprise system than they can by hindering it.”
- “The Soviet Union will not tolerate any interference in the internal affairs of other states.”
- “Revolutions are not made for export.”
- “What the scientists have in their briefcases is terrifying.”
- “When we have a rocket in the backyard, we can dictate to them what to do.”
- “If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If both are against you, pound the table and yell like hell.”
- “The Cold War isn’t thawing; it is burning with a deadly heat.”
- “The survivors would envy the dead.”
- “We are for peaceful coexistence. But I envision a time when all of us are communists.”
- “I can prophecy that your grandchildren in America will live under socialism.”
- “The Americans have surrounded us with bases all over the world; our only response is to build more rockets.”
- “When you are skinning your customers, you should leave some skin on to grow again so that you can skin them again.”
- “We will take America without firing a shot.”
- “Bombs do not choose; they will hit everything.”
- “Those who wait for that must wait until a shrimp learns to whistle.”
- “If you feed the people cannons, soon you will have nothing but a skeleton army.”
- “I once said, ‘We will bury you,’ and I got into trouble for it. Of course, we will not bury you with a shovel; your own working class will bury you.”
- “Berlin is the testicles of the West; every time I want the West to scream, I squeeze on Berlin.”
- “Life is short; live it up.”
- “Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy more tunnel.”
- “I want to talk to these people because they stay in power while you change all the time.”