Mikhail Gorbachev
Birthday: 2 March 1931, Privolnoye, North Caucasus Krai, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Stavropol Krai, Russia]
Birth Name: Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachyov
Height: 175 cm
Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Communist Party who initiated changes known as 'perestroika' and 'glasnost' which melted the rigid Soviet system and liberated 1 ...Show More
It would be naive to think that the problems plaguing mankind today can be solved with means and met Show more
It would be naive to think that the problems plaguing mankind today can be solved with means and methods which were applied or seemed to work in the past. Hide
Jesus was the first socialist, the first to seek a better life for mankind.
Jesus was the first socialist, the first to seek a better life for mankind.
I grew up in a family of peasants, and it was there that I saw the way that, for example, our wheat Show more
I grew up in a family of peasants, and it was there that I saw the way that, for example, our wheat fields suffered as a result of dust storms, water erosion and wind erosion; I saw the effect of that on life - on human life. Hide
If not me, who? And if not now, when?
If not me, who? And if not now, when?
My life's work has been accomplished. I did all that I could.
My life's work has been accomplished. I did all that I could.
We could only solve our problems by cooperating with other countries. It would have been paradoxical Show more
We could only solve our problems by cooperating with other countries. It would have been paradoxical not to cooperate. And therefore we needed to put an end to the Iron Curtain, to change the nature of international relations, to rid them of ideological confrontation, and particularly to end the arms race. Hide
Sometimes when you stand face to face with someone, you cannot see his face.
Sometimes when you stand face to face with someone, you cannot see his face.
More socialism means more democracy, openness and collectivism in everyday life.
More socialism means more democracy, openness and collectivism in everyday life.
I think the environmental problem will be the number one item on the agenda of the 21st century... T Show more
I think the environmental problem will be the number one item on the agenda of the 21st century... This is a problem that cannot be postponed. Hide
Certain people in the United States are driving nails into this structure of our relationship, then Show more
Certain people in the United States are driving nails into this structure of our relationship, then cutting off the heads. So the Soviets must use their teeth to pull them out. Hide
On the day I became Soviet leader, in March 1985, I had a special meeting with the leaders of the Wa Show more
On the day I became Soviet leader, in March 1985, I had a special meeting with the leaders of the Warsaw Pact countries and told them: 'You are independent, and we are independent. You are responsible for your policies, we are responsible for ours. We will not intervene in your affairs, I promise you.' Hide
It is better to discuss things, to argue and engage in polemics than make perfidious plans of mutual Show more
It is better to discuss things, to argue and engage in polemics than make perfidious plans of mutual destruction. Hide
Political leaders still think things can be done through force, but that cannot solve terrorism. Bac Show more
Political leaders still think things can be done through force, but that cannot solve terrorism. Backwardness is the breeding ground of terror, and that is what we have to fight. Hide
What about Jesus Christ? I say that he was a precursor of idealists; a precursor of socialists.
What about Jesus Christ? I say that he was a precursor of idealists; a precursor of socialists.
Ex-Presidents of the United States get state subsidies. Not so in Russia. You get no government supp Show more
Ex-Presidents of the United States get state subsidies. Not so in Russia. You get no government support. Hide
What we need is Star Peace and not Star Wars.
What we need is Star Peace and not Star Wars.
I am a Communist, a convinced Communist! For some that may be a fantasy. But to me it is my main goa Show more
I am a Communist, a convinced Communist! For some that may be a fantasy. But to me it is my main goal. Hide
You cannot put Russia down on its knees and hold it there because Russia will ultimately pull out.
You cannot put Russia down on its knees and hold it there because Russia will ultimately pull out.
I say again that I am an atheist. I do not believe in God.
I say again that I am an atheist. I do not believe in God.
I believe, as Lenin said, that this revolutionary chaos may yet crystallize into new forms of life.
I believe, as Lenin said, that this revolutionary chaos may yet crystallize into new forms of life.
I couldn't wait to get to the most powerful position, because I thought then I would be able to fix Show more
I couldn't wait to get to the most powerful position, because I thought then I would be able to fix problems that only the leader can fix. But when I got there, I realized we needed revolutionary change. Hide
It seems that the most important thing about Reagan was his anti-Communism and his reputation as a h Show more
It seems that the most important thing about Reagan was his anti-Communism and his reputation as a hawk who saw the Soviet Union as an 'evil empire.' Hide
Surely, God on high has not refused to give us enough wisdom to find ways to bring us an improvement Show more
Surely, God on high has not refused to give us enough wisdom to find ways to bring us an improvement in relations between the two great nations on earth. Hide
The world will not accept dictatorship or domination.
The world will not accept dictatorship or domination.
A society should never become like a pond with stagnant water, without movement. That's the most imp Show more
A society should never become like a pond with stagnant water, without movement. That's the most important thing. Hide
If what you have done yesterday still looks big to you, you haven't done much today.
If what you have done yesterday still looks big to you, you haven't done much today.
Starting reforms in the Soviet Union was only possible from above, only from above. Any attempt to g Show more
Starting reforms in the Soviet Union was only possible from above, only from above. Any attempt to go from below was suppressed, suppressed in a most resolute way. Hide
Sometimes it's difficult to accept, to recognise one's own mistakes, but one must do it. I was guilt Show more
Sometimes it's difficult to accept, to recognise one's own mistakes, but one must do it. I was guilty of overconfidence and arrogance, and I was punished for that. Hide
The market is not an invention of capitalism. It has existed for centuries. It is an invention of ci Show more
The market is not an invention of capitalism. It has existed for centuries. It is an invention of civilization. Hide
There should be competition and exchanges between different countries, but there are certainly certa Show more
There should be competition and exchanges between different countries, but there are certainly certain universal values, and that is freedom and democracy. Hide
Without perestroika, the cold war simply would not have ended. But the world could not continue deve Show more
Without perestroika, the cold war simply would not have ended. But the world could not continue developing as it had, with the stark menace of nuclear war ever present. Hide
If people don't like Marxism, they should blame the British Museum.
If people don't like Marxism, they should blame the British Museum.
I think God has some mechanism that he uses to punish those that make mistakes.
I think God has some mechanism that he uses to punish those that make mistakes.
The soviet people want full-blooded and unconditional democracy.
The soviet people want full-blooded and unconditional democracy.
I paid too heavy a price for perestroika.
I paid too heavy a price for perestroika.
If current technological processes continue without change, the environment will change, and we, the Show more
If current technological processes continue without change, the environment will change, and we, the human species, will either have to mutate or even die, to disappear, as many species have disappeared. Hide
Democracy must learn to defend itself.
Democracy must learn to defend itself.
Imagine a country that flies into space, launches Sputniks, creates such a defense system, and it ca Show more
Imagine a country that flies into space, launches Sputniks, creates such a defense system, and it can't resolve the problem of women's pantyhose. There's no toothpaste, no soap powder, not the basic necessities of life. It was incredible and humiliating to work in such a government. Hide
I don't think Russia is setting this as a goal; I don't think this should be Russia's goal. I think Show more
I don't think Russia is setting this as a goal; I don't think this should be Russia's goal. I think even the United States doesn't need to be a superpower. China doesn't need to be a superpower. It's a different world. Hide
Democracy is the wholesome and pure air without which a socialist public organization cannot live a Show more
Democracy is the wholesome and pure air without which a socialist public organization cannot live a full-blooded life. Hide
Every country should conduct its own reforms, should develop its own model, taking into account the Show more
Every country should conduct its own reforms, should develop its own model, taking into account the experience of other countries, whether close neighbours or far away countries. Hide
I think we need more young people; we need to elect young people to government. We need to give them Show more
I think we need more young people; we need to elect young people to government. We need to give them a chance, in the media, in politics, in democracy. Hide
Sometimes people ask me why I began perestroika. Were the causes basically domestic or foreign? The Show more
Sometimes people ask me why I began perestroika. Were the causes basically domestic or foreign? The domestic reasons were undoubtedly the main ones, but the danger of nuclear war was so serious that it was a no less significant factor. Hide
The market came with the dawn of civilization and it is not an invention of capitalism. If it leads Show more
The market came with the dawn of civilization and it is not an invention of capitalism. If it leads to improving the well-being of the people there is no contradiction with socialism. Hide
My whole life I worked to perfect our system. I couldn't wait to get to the most powerful position, Show more
My whole life I worked to perfect our system. I couldn't wait to get to the most powerful position, because I thought then I would be able to fix problems that only the leader can fix. But when I got there, I realized we needed revolutionary change. The only way things got done was if you knew somebody or you paid somebody under the table. So what system did we have? It was time to dismantle the whole thing. Hide
Mikhail Gorbachev's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (39)