Joseph Stalin Quotes

“It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.”

“Why will our elections be equal? Because neither differences in regard to property (differences partly existing) nor differences of race and nationality will cause any privileges or disadvantages. Women will enjoy the right to elect and be elected equally with men. Our elections will be really equal.”

“Capitalism in its imperialistic stage is a system which regards war as a legitimate method for solution of international disputes - a method which is legitimate in fact if not legally so.”

“I don't know what specific frontiers Germany could adopt for her purposes, but I think that those willing "to lend" a frontier to her can be found.”

“There is talk ... of our constructing Dnieprostroy through our own means. The means needed are great, several hundred millions. Let us not get into the position of the peasant who, after accumulating a nest-egg, instead of repairing his plough and renewing his equipment, buys a gramophone and goes bankrupt.”

“When we hang the capitalists they will sell us the rope we use.”

“It doesn't matter who they vote for, they always vote for us.”

“I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this - who will count the votes, and how.”

“So far, the Far Eastern focal point of danger is the most active.It is possible, however, that the center of the menace may shift to Europe. Evidence of this is provided, for instance, by [Adolf] Hitler's recent interview given to a French paper. In this interview, Hitler seems to attempt to say peaceful things. But this "peacefulness" of his is so thickly interspersed with threats against France and the Soviet Union that nothing remains of the "peacefulness".”

“I know that after my death a pile of rubbish will be heaped on my grave, but the wind of History will sooner or later sweep it away without mercy.”

“It is not heroes that make history, but history that makes heroes.”

“Yes, the electoral struggle [in U.S.S.R.] will be animated. It will proceed around numerous very sharp questions, namely, practical questions having first-rate significance for the people.”

“We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years. Either we do it, or they will crush us.”

“A sincere diplomat is like dry water or wooden iron.”

“In the U.S.S.R. anti-semitism is punishable with the utmost severity of the law as a phenomenon deeply hostile to the Soviet system. Under U.S.S.R. law active anti-semites are liable to the death penalty.”

“We secured peace for our country for one and a half years, as well as an opportunity of preparing our forces for defense if fascist Germany risked attacking our country in defiance of the pact. This was a definite gain to our country and a loss for fascist Germany.”

“The leaders come and go, but the people remain. Only the people are immortal.”

“Gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs.”

“The people will always attempt to find the positive aspects of all circumstances, which, in themselves, are not susceptible to danger.”

“Of course, in order to build something new, one has to economize, accumulate means, temporarily limit one's requirements, borrow from others. If you want to build a new house,you save money temporarily and limit your requirements, otherwise you might not build your house.”

“Anti-Semitism, as an extreme form of racial chauvinism, is the most dangerous vestige of cannibalism.”

“You cannot make a revolution with silk gloves.”

“Bukharin's a swine and surely worse than a swine because he thinks it below his dignity to write a couple of lines.”

“music's a good thing, it calm the beast in the man.”

“Real liberty exists only there where exploitation has been annihilated, where no oppression of some peoples by others exists, where there is no unemployment and pauperism, where a person does not tremble because tomorrow he may lose his job, home and bread.”