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Hugo Chávez

85 quotes

“We do not believe in this paradigm of the Western capitalist, bourgeois democratic world. Nor do we believe in the fallen paradigm of the Soviet Union: communism, the classless society, without the State, of absolute equality. That doesn't exist. So, faced with that reality, we have proposed, after thinking and analyzing it, the need to rescue what is ours.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 1315 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Biardeau R. Javier . Del Árbol de las Tres Raíces al "Socialismo Bolivariano del siglo XXI" ¿Una nueva narrativa ideológica de emancipación?. Revista Venezolana de Economía y Ciencias Sociales [en linea]. 2009, 15(1), 5…
“…We present to our generation and our compatriots [ideas that are not finished] for the design of a long-range project, in which the ideological is fundamental, but it must be developed like all the other facets or lines of the Simón Bolívar project, which accepts experiences from any country, trend, any historical era, etc. The tree has to be a circumference, it has to accept ideas of all kinds, from the right, from the left, from the ideological ruins of these old capitalist or communist systems, and there are elements or ruins that are gigantic and we must take them.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 1315 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Biardeau R. Javier . Del Árbol de las Tres Raíces al "Socialismo Bolivariano del siglo XXI" ¿Una nueva narrativa ideológica de emancipación?. Revista Venezolana de Economía y Ciencias Sociales [en linea]. 2009, 15(1), 5…
“The Bolivarian National Front would like to count on many Marxists...as long as we do not fall into political radicalism. I believe that the unity of those currents that are revolutionary Marxists, revolutionary Christian Marxists, revolutionary Bolivarians is necessary in order to seek an authentically revolutionary path but proper to our reality, proper to our idiosyncrasy, to our goals and possibilities.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: González Almandoz Daniel . EL BOLIVARISMO CHAVISTA COMO SUSTENTO DEL SOCIALISMO DEL SIGLO 21: REFLEXIONES SOBRE EL PENSAMIENTO DE HUGO CHÁVEZ FRÍAS. e-l@tina. Revista electrónica de estudios latinoamericanos [en linea].…
“We must confront the privileged elite who have destroyed a large part of the world”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He was an asshole to believe them.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks about US President George W. Bush during a pro-government rally in Caracas on March 1, 2004, accusing the US of "meddling" in Venezuela's affairs.
“I give you a replica of liberator Simon Bolivar's sword. For you who, like Bolivar, took up arms to liberate your people. For you who, like Bolivar, are and will always be a true freedom fighter. [Mugabe] continues, alongside his people, to confront the pretensions of new imperialists.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Praising Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe as a freedom fighter, as quoted in "Chavez's colourful quotations" at BBC News (12 November 2007)
“We need to leave behind us the horrendous capitalist system that has been installed here, by those who attempted to dominate the people and to throw them into poverty. This why we are here, to put an end to this.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2004 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A statement made by Chavez at a public hand over of 3000 titles in the barrio of Petare in Caracas in October 2004.
“This project forms part of a distinct vision more progressive than the capitalist model. Today (Friday) we take a step forward in the economic and social revolution.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This Sunday, what’s at stake is not whether a man stays in power but a political model that is confronting capitalism and neoliberalism. This NO is traversing the whole continent from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When imperialism feels weak, it resorts to brute force. The attacks on Venezuela are a sign of weakness, ideological weakness. Nowadays almost nobody defends neoliberalism. Up until three years ago, just Fidel [Castro] and I raised those criticisms at Presidential meetings. We felt lonely, as if we infiltrated those meetings.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez during his closing speech at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. January 31, 2005.
“Just look at the internal repression inside the United States, the Patriot Act, which is a repressive law against U.S. citizens. They have put in jail a group of journalists for not revealing their sources. They won't allow them to take pictures of the bodies of the dead soldiers, many of them Latinos, coming from Iraq. Those are signs of Goliath's weaknesses.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez during his closing speech at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. January 31, 2005.
“The south also exists... the future of the north depends on the south. If we don't make that better world possible, if we fail, and through the rifles of the U.S. Marines, and through Mr. Bush's murderous bombs, if there is no coincidence and organization necessary in the south to resist the offensive of neo-imperialism, and the Bush doctrine is imposed upon the world, the world will be destroyed.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez during his closing speech at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. January 31, 2005.
“Everyday I become more convinced, there is no doubt in my mind, as many intellectuals have said, that it is necessary to transcend capitalism. But capitalism can not be transcended through capitalism itself; it must be done through socialism, true socialism, with equality and justice. I’m also convinced that it is possible to do it under democracy, but not in the type of democracy being imposed by Washington.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez during his closing speech at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. January 31, 2005.
“We have to re-invent socialism. It can’t be the kind of socialism that we saw in the Soviet Union, but it will emerge as we develop new systems that are built on cooperation, not competition.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez during his closing speech at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. January 31, 2005.
“Privatization is a neoliberal and imperialist plan. Health can’t be privatized because it is a fundamental human right, nor can education, water, electricity and other public services. They can’t be surrendered to private capital that denies the people from their rights.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez during his closing speech at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. January 31, 2005.
“If I am assassinated, there is only one person responsible: the president of the United States. If, by the hand of the devil, these perverse plans succeed...forget about Venezuelan oil, Mr. Bush. I will not hide, I will walk in the streets with all of you...but I know I am condemned to death.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez message to George Bush during his television/radio show ¡Aló Presidente! on February 20, 2005.
“The world should forget about cheap oil. [The price] will keep going up and some day arrive at US$100 per barrel.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez at a press conference in New Delhi, after signing a cooperative agreement with India's hydrocarbon sector, March 2005.
“I am convinced that the path to a new, better and possible world is not capitalism, the path is socialism.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez in March 2005
“The grand destroyer of the world, and the greatest threat … is represented by U.S. imperialism.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez during his television/radio show ¡Aló Presidente! on August 21, 2005.
“But Cuba doesn’t have a dictatorship — it’s a revolutionary democracy.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez during his television/radio show ¡Aló Presidente! on August 21, 2005.
“[Pat Robertson] is expressing the wishes of the US elite. If anything happens to me then the man responsible will be George W. Bush. He will be the assassin. This is pure terrorism.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Responding to remarks from US TV evangelist Pat Robertson on August 28, 2005.
“That man, the king of vacations... the king of vacations in his ranch said nothing but: "You have to flee." and didn't say how... that cowboy, the cowboy mentality.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez criticizes George W. Bush's handling of Hurricane Katrina, during a cabinet meeting broadcast live on television (August 31, 2005).
“Knowing English is important, but for us Venezuelans I think it would also be important to know Portuguese. For that reason, we should evaluate the possibility of it being taught in our schools.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez during his television/radio show ¡Aló Presidente! on October 2, 2005.
“The descendants of those who crucified Christ... have taken ownership of the riches of the world, a minority has taken ownership of the gold of the world, the silver, the minerals, water, the good lands, petrol, well, the riches, and they have concentrated the riches in a small number of hands.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Christmas Speech at a rehabilitation center on December 24th, 2005.
“Let the dogs of the empire bark, that's their job; ours is to battle to achieve the true liberation of our people.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What they have implanted here, which is really a 'gringo' custom, is terrorism. They disguise children as witches and wizards, that is contrary to our culture.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I hereby accuse the North American empire of being the biggest menace to our planet.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez speaking in October 2005
“It makes one sad to see the sell-out of President Fox, really it makes one sad. How sad that the president of a people like the Mexicans lets himself become the puppy dog of the empire.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement in reference to Mexican president Vicente Fox's support of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, in Mar de Plata as quoted in "Chavez's colourful quotations" at BBC News (12 November 2007)
“The world has an offer for everybody but it turned out that a few minorities--the descendants of those who crucified Christ, the descendants of those who expelled Bolivar from here and also those who in a certain way crucified him in Santa Marta, there in Colombia--they took possession of the riches of the world, a minority took possession of the planet’s gold, the silver, the minerals, the water, the good lands, the oil, and they have concentrated all the riches in the hands of a few; less than 10 percent of the world population owns more than half of the riches of the world.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Chavez is invoking a Christian metaphor to condemn capitalism in this Christmas address, December 24, 2005, which some commentators have taken to be a reference to the Jews.
“They [US officials] say they want to impose a democratic model. But that's their democratic model. It's the false democracy of elites, and, I would say, a very original democracy that's imposed by weapons and bombs and firing weapons. What type of democracy do you impose with marines and bombs?”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[If] we walk in the streets of the Bronx, if we walk around New York, Washington, San Diego, in any city, San Antonio, San Francisco, and we ask individuals, the citizens of the United States, what does this country want? Does it want peace? They'll say yes.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But the government doesn't want peace. The government of the United States doesn't want peace. It wants to exploit its system of exploitation, of pillage, of hegemony through war... But what's happening in Iraq? What happened in Lebanon? In Palestine? What's happening? What's happened over the last 100 years in Latin America and in the world? And now threatening Venezuela -- new threats against Venezuela, against Iran?”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What we now have to do is define the future of the world. Dawn is breaking out all over. You can see it in Africa and Europe and Latin America and Oceanea. I want to emphasize that optimistic vision.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We have to strengthen ourselves, our will to do battle, our awareness. We have to build a new and better world.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Venezuela joins that struggle, and that's why we are threatened. The U.S. has already planned, financed and set in motion a coup in Venezuela, and it continues to support coup attempts in Venezuela and elsewhere.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“...reminded us just a moment ago of the horrendous assassination of the former foreign minister, Orlando Letelier. And I would just add one thing: Those who perpetrated this crime are free. And that other event where an American citizen also died were American themselves. They were CIA killers, terrorists.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Enough already with the imperialist aggression! Down with the U.S. empire! It must be said, in the entire world: Down with the empire!”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remarks during a meeting with US activist Cindy Sheehan in January 2006.
“Don’t be shameless, Mr Blair. Don’t be immoral, Mr. Blair. You are one of those who have no morals. You are not one who has the right to criticize anyone about the rules of the international community. You are an imperialist pawn who attempts to curry favor with Danger Bush-Hitler, the number one mass murderer and assassin there is on the planet. Go straight to hell, Mr. Blair.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Responding to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, which Mr. Blair urged Venezuela to abide by the rules of the international community. (February 2006) 12
“[I'm being] compared to the biggest genocide person alive, in the history of humanity, the president of the United States... killer, genocidal, immoral... who should be taken to prison by an international criminal court. I don't know to what you are referring when you compare me to President Bush. Have I invaded any country? Have Venezuelans invaded anything? Have we bombarded a city? Have we had a coup d'etat? Have we used the CIA to kill a president? Have we protected terrorists in Venezuela? That's Bush!”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez to reporters during a press conference with London mayor Ken Livingstone on May 12, 2006.
“We see here a model social state like the one we are beginning to create.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez to reporters during a state visit to Minsk, Belarus, on July 25, 2006.
“I have found yet another friend here. And with such a friend we will together form a team, like a soccer team. This will be a fighting team.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez, referring to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, to reporters during a state visit to Minsk, Belarus, on July 25, 2006.
“[I admire] your wisdom and strength. [...] We are with you and with Iran forever. As long as we remain united we will be able to defeat [U.S.] imperialism, but if we are divided they will push us aside.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Said to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, during a meeting to the country on July 29, 2006.
“Let's save the human race, let's finish off the U.S. empire”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hugo Chávez on the Islamic Republic Medal ceremony at Tehran University in Iran. July 30th, 2006.
“Israel has gone mad. It's attacking, doing the same thing to the Palestinian and Lebanese people that they have criticised - and with reason - the Holocaust. But this is a new Holocaust.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Devil is right at home. The Devil, the Devil himself, is right in the house. And the Devil came here yesterday. Yesterday the Devil came here. Right here. [crosses himself] And it smells of sulphur still today. Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the Devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech at the U.N. in which he referred to George W. Bush as the Devil, (September 2006), as quoted in "Chavez's colourful quotations" at BBC News (12 November 2007)
“Capitalism is the way of the devil and exploitation, of the kind of misery and inequality that destroys social values. If you really look at things through the eyes of Jesus Christ - who I think was the first socialist - only socialism can really create a genuine society.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Reformism or Revolution: Marxism and socialism of the 21st Century (Reply to Heinz Dieterich) (24 September 2006)
“Dr Insulza is quite an idiot, a true idiot. The insipid Dr Insulza should resign from the secretariat of the OAS for daring to play that role.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Chavez responding to criticism from OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza regarding the governments decision for not renew the license of an opposition-aligned TV station. (January 9, 2007)
“Go to hell, gringos! Go home!...What does the empire want? Condoleezza said it. How are you? You’ve forgotten me, missy...Condoleezza said it clearly, it’s about creating a new geopolitical map in the Middle East...They took out Saddam Hussein and they hung him, for better or worse. It’s not up to me to judge any government, but that gentleman was the president of that country.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Weekly radio address (January 21, 2007)
“The two of them [Bush & Negroponte] are criminals. They should be tried and thrown in prison for the rest of their days. If he had any dignity, the president of the United States would quit. The U.S. president doesn't have the political or moral capacity to govern.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Responding to remarks by US President Bush, over concerns of Venezuela's democracy being under threat. (February 1, 2007)
“No se trata de estatizar toda la economía (...) No, nuestro socialismo acepta la propiedad privada. Solo que esa propiedad privada debe estar en el marco de una constitución y leyes y de un interés social.”
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Socialismo aceptará propiedad privada (23 July, 2007), La Nación