Mario Monti Quotes

I think it's often discussed that leaving the Euro is an option for Greece. I think this is really not an option.

A Greek exit from the E.U. and the euro would mean the Greek economy would be difficult to sustain.

Observers and even some officials raise questions about the future of Greece as part of the Eurozone, while the Eurozone itself struggles to deal with fundamental flaws at the heart of its architecture.

We will do whatever we could do to keep Greece inside the euro and inside Europe.

More cuts were needed to avoid exiting the eurozone.

Greece has to stay in the euro.

The goal of the government is to guarantee the place of Greece in the eurozone against those who want to undermine it.

We have no intention of leaving the euro. In no way will we experiment with the future of our country.

If I had political responsibility, I would want to prepare for a plan B that would foresee that the European currency union, that the eurozone, no longer necessarily consists of 17 member states. And that means to make provisions so that other countries are not pulled into the maelstrom through contagion.

There's no more place in the euro zone for well-meaning laxness when dealing with deficits and failings. If the demands on Greece aren't taken seriously, we'll get stuck in quicksand. In the worst case, this would make it acceptable for one tranche to not be paid out. It is in the Greeks own interest not to test that.

The shadow of an exit of Greece from the euro zone takes on ever clearer shape, repeated apparently final attempts to reach a deal are starting to make the whole process look ridiculous. There is an ever greater number of people who feel as if the Greek government is giving them the run-around.

The Greek people do not want to exit the euro. And I believe the Greek people already have shown that they have made major sacrifices to stay in the euro zone.

It will not be possible to solve the current crisis with euro bonds.

If we do not resolve the euro crisis, we will all pay the price. And if we do resolve it, we will all benefit, particularly German taxpayers and savers.

I described the euro as a burning building with no exits and so it has proved for some of the countries in it.

The Greek people today voted for Greece to remain on its European path and in the eurozone.

There is no better protection against the euro crisis than successful structural reforms in southern Europe.

The euro zone is only hurting itself by trying to keep Greece as a member.

Countries themselves need to do everything possible to remain in the euro zone.

Greece wishes to be part of the eurozone, but it must, of course, go through with the necessary reforms to make this happen.

Leaving the euro was never up for discussion. It is not up for discussion.

Let's start with the euro. What on earth were we thinking? How could anyone with the faintest grasp of economics have believed it was anything other than sheer insanity to yoke together diverse national economies such as Greece, Ireland, Germany and Finland under a single exchange rate and a single interest rate?

I'm a pessimist about the euro, but not about Europe. So the southern periphery, Spain, Italy, Greece, leave - Italy might be the first to go - and the rest stay. That will work just fine. But unless they want to give up democracy, I don't see greater fiscal union as the answer.

The vast majority of Greeks accept the need for reform and want to keep our country inside the euro zone.

A very difficult year is ahead of us. We must continue our efforts with decisiveness, to stay in the euro, to make sure we do not waste the sacrifices and do not turn the crisis into an uncontrolled and disastrous bankruptcy.