You can build a throne with bayonets, but it's difficult to sit on it. Boris Yeltsin More Quotes by Boris Yeltsin More Quotes From Boris Yeltsin Gorbachev gave us freedom of worship and freedom of speech and freedom to see what was going on and freedom to vote, but that freedom won't last unless it is underpinned by economic freedom. Boris Yeltsin freedom-of-speech lasts war A man must live like a great brilliant flame and burn as brightly as he can. In the end he burns out. But this is far better than a mean little flame. Boris Yeltsin flames men mean We don't appreciate what we have until it's gone. Freedom is like that. It's like air. When you have it, you don't notice it. Boris Yeltsin freedom yoga air Let's not talk about Communism. Communism was just and idea, just pie in the sky. Boris Yeltsin sky talking ideas It is especially important to encourage unorthodox thinking when the situation is critical: At such moments every new word and fresh thought is more precious than gold. Indeed, people must not be deprived of the right to think their own thoughts. Boris Yeltsin courage inspirational thinking The main problem with being president is the constant sense that you are inside a glass bowl for everyone to see, or in a kind of barometric chamber with an artificial atmosphere where you must stay all the time. Boris Yeltsin atmosphere glasses president Money, big money (which is actually a relative concept) is always, under any circumstances, a seduction, a test of morals, a temptation to sin. Boris Yeltsin tests money temptation The Soviet Union could not exist without the image of the empire. The image of the empire could not exist without the image of force. The USSR ended the moment the first hammer pounded the Berlin Wall. Boris Yeltsin hammers wall firsts A politician must have some scruples, a certain decency; he cannot smear himself in the mud for the sake of a high ideal. Boris Yeltsin mud politician sake I cannot shift the blame for Chechnya, for the sorrow of numerous mothers and fathers. I made the decision, therefore I am responsible. Boris Yeltsin decision mother father I understand that it's hard for everyone, but one cannot give in to emotions... we'll have to draw lessons from the current crisis and now we'll have to work on overcoming it. Boris Yeltsin overcoming work giving We Russians are already living, not getting ready to live. Boris Yeltsin ready Liberty sets the mind free, fosters independence and unorthodox thinking and ideas. But it does not offer instant prosperity or happiness and wealth to everyone. Boris Yeltsin happiness ideas thinking I ask you to forgive me for not fulfilling some hopes of those people who believed that we would be able to jump from the totalitarian past into a bright, rich and civilized future in one go. Boris Yeltsin forgive-me people past I will not step down, I will not resign, ... I will work to the end of my term in office under the constitution. In the year 2000, there will be presidential elections under the constitution and I will not run in those elections. Boris Yeltsin office running years We, Russia, are prepared to work with others. I am convinced that stability and security in Europe cannot be considered without taking Russia into account. Boris Yeltsin russia work europe I would like to stress here that a lasting peace in the Chechen republic and so-called peace talks with the bandits are not the same thing, and I would ask everyone to make no mistake about that. Boris Yeltsin stress mistake peace One could see that what you are writing was that today's meeting with President Bill Clinton was going to be a disaster. Now, for the first time, I can tell you that you are a disaster. Boris Yeltsin president writing time Your commanders have ordered you to storm the White House and to arrest me. But I as the elected President of Russia give you the order to turn your tanks and not to fight against your own people. Boris Yeltsin russia fighting order While maintaining our nuclear potential at the proper level, we need to devote more attention to developing the entire range of means of information warfare Boris Yeltsin warfare mean needs
