Mikhail Gorbachev Quotes

There can be no socialism without democracy.

What is the difference between democracy and democratic socialism? The same as between a chair and an electric chair.

The only way to save the world is through socialism, but a socialism that exists within a democracy; there's no dictatorship here.

Socialism values equality more than liberty.

We who are members of the Communist Party repudiate the exclusive identification of democracy with capitalism. We declare that democracy can be widened, take on new aspects, become truly a rule of the people, only when it is extended to the economic life of the people.

Socialism without democracy is unthinkable.

I think that the future belongs to democracy, but not to capitalism, because they are opposite camps.

Socialism is the religion people get when they lose their religion.

Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.

Democracy is indispensable to socialism.

The tendency of democracies is, in all things, to mediocrity.

More socialism means more democracy, openness and collectivism in everyday life.

Democracy is the road to socialism.

Socialist democracy is not, a luxury and its need is not limited to the most advanced industrial countries.

Socialism means slavery.

A country cannot subsist well without liberty, nor liberty without virtue.

My experience and what scant understanding of politics I possess have convinced me that our peoples will only find well-being under compulsion; but my repugnance for compulsion is so great that I am loath to employ it even to achieve their well-being.

Our real battlefield today is Asia and our real battle is the one between democracy and communism.... We have to prove to the world and particularly to downtrodden areas of the world which are the natural prey to the principles of communist economics that democracy really brings about happier and better conditions for the people as a whole.

Let's face it: however old-fashioned and out of date and devaluated the word is, we like the way of living provided by democracy.

The agricultural and industrial system of a free people, like their political system, ought to be an accurate reflex of the democratic principle by the people for the people, solely in the interests of the people.

Long live socialism with a human face.

Democracy is very powerful but very fragile.

We have been with democracy for over 200 years and from time to time we find that we have not perfected it.

Democracy is hypocrisy without limitation.

… that veiled sister of communism – legalistic socialism