Quotes about homeland
page 87

Mateusz Morawiecki photo

“We cannot accept turning perpetrators and those responsible for committing cruel crimes against both innocent people and invaded countries into victims. Together - in the name of those who perished and for the good of our common future - we must preserve the truth.”

Mateusz Morawiecki (1968) Prime Minister of Poland

"Statement by the Prime minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki" https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/statement-by-the-prime-minister-of-poland-mateusz-morawiecki (29 December 2019)

Imbolo Mbue photo

“It's so hard to be a stranger in a strange land. I don't think most people understand how difficult it is to leave behind what you know and come to a country where everything about you is considered "different."”

Imbolo Mbue (1982) Cameroonian writer

On being a stranger in “Oprah Talks to Behold the Dreamers Author Imbolo Mbue” http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/oprahs-book-club-imbolo-mbue-interview-august-2017-o-magazine#ixzz65IgPILHu in O Magazine

Donald J. Trump photo

“We’re not going to have a country left in three years, I’ll tell you that.”

Donald J. Trump (1946) 45th President of the United States of America

"Donald Trump Predicts America Will End Within 3 Years" https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-predicts-america-end-002940784.html, quoted by David Moye, Yahoo News, 15 September 2021
2021, September 2021

Angela Davis photo
Maximilien Robespierre photo
Soong Mei-ling photo

“I have reached your country, therefore, with no misgivings, but with my belief that the American people are building and carrying out a true pattern of the nation conceived by your forebears, strengthened and confirmed.”

Soong Mei-ling (1897–2003) Chiang Kai-shek's wife, First Lady of the Republic of China

Address to the U.S. House of Representatives (February 18, 1943)

Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Theodore G. Bilbo photo

“This is a white man's country, with a white man's civilization and any dream on the part of the Negro race to share social and political equality will be shattered in the end.”

Theodore G. Bilbo (1877–1947) American politician

In a statement arguing that would have been practically impossible to prevent Hartfield's lynching
1919

Mahatma Gandhi photo

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. The materialism of affluent Christian countries appears to contradict the claims of Jesus Christ that says it's not possible to worship both Mammon and God at the same time.”

Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) pre-eminent leader of Indian nationalism during British-ruled India

As quoted by William Rees-Mogg in The Times [London] (4 April 2005) {not found}. Gandhi here makes reference to a statement of Jesus: “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:13); also partly quoted in Christianity in the Crosshairs: Real Life Solutions Discovered in the Line of Fire (2004, p. 74 books.google http://books.google.de/books?id=I7_5OM2VWuMC&pg=PA74) by Bill Wilson.
A variation is found in Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal & Gandhi Research Foundation's website mkgandhi.org http://www.mkgandhi.org/africaneedsgandhi/gandhi's_message_to_christians.htm. Christian missionary E. Stanley Jones, who spent much time with Gandhi in India, is said to have askedː “Mr Gandhi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is it that you appear to so adamantly reject becoming his follower?". To this, Gandhi is said to have repliedː “Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It is just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ”. Jones would write a book called " Mahatma Gandhi: An Interpretation https://archive.org/details/mahatmagandhiani000019mbp" (1948), where he included excerpts of his personal correspondance with Gandhi, but he did not include this conversation.
No further sources for Gandhi have been yet found; but a similar quote is attributed to Bara Dadaː "Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians -- you are not like him." Source - Jones, E. Stanley. The Christ of the Indian Road, New York: The Abingdon Press,1925. (Page 114)
Disputed

Nathaniel Banks photo

“Stop men! Don't you love you're country?”

Nathaniel Banks (1816–1894) politician of Massachusetts and general of the Union Army (1816-1894)

“We have to change the situation. Everybody is closing his country against the neighbor. We have to open these frontiers to each other and live in one community, one fraternity of people. This is the meaning of Christian life, this the meaning of our religion.”

Samir Nassar (1950)

Syria: Church perseveres in spite of war https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-02/syria-church-damascus-bishop-migration-christians-bari.html (20 February 2020)

Ramsey Clark photo

“A great many people in this country are worried about law-and-order. And a great many people are worried about justice. But one thing is certain: You cannot have either until you have both.”

Ramsey Clark (1927) United States Marine

As quoted in Attorney General and Rebel With a Cause, Dies at 93, By Douglas Martin, New York Times, (10 April 2021)

“Total war necessitates total espionage. The leadership of a country must be capable of finding out about and calculating the entire force of resistance of in opponents, military and otherwise.”

Curt Martin Riess (1902–1993) German journalist and writer

Source: Total Espionage: Germany’s Information and Disinformation Apparatus 1932-41 (1941), p. 7

Leopold II of Belgium photo

“Small country, small people.”

Leopold II of Belgium (1835–1909) King of the Belgians

King Leopold's Ghost https://vimeo.com/ondemand/kingleopoldsghost Leopold II, Hair to the Belgian throne, 1866.

Mike Gravel photo

“We don't need a minimum wage; we need a living wage. We don't have that in this country because of what they passed.”

Mike Gravel (1930–2021) American politician; United States Senator

CNN Democratic Primary Debate

Petro Poroshenko photo

“We must be united on the outside front. Even during a parliamentary campaign, even when we have very tough political confrontations within the country.”

Petro Poroshenko (1965) Ukrainian businessman and politician

Interview to "Ukrains'ka Pravda" https://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2019/07/29/7222233/ (29 July 2019)

Auguste, Baron Lambermont photo

“Never have I had the impression of such a moral and civic downfall. In no country, not even the last of the last, what is happening here would be possible.”

Auguste, Baron Lambermont (1819–1905) Belgian politician

All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), 6. Baron Auguste Lambermont (1819-1905), The Anti-Slavery Conference and the Relaxing Relationship with Leopold II http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#_ftn194 Lambermont in a 1895 letter to Henri Alexis Brialmont after the failed attempt to annex the Congo State by Belgium. WILLEQUET, J. Le baron Lambermont, 113-114.

“Then you have no more wish to rule? The country needs you now more than ever.”

She shook her head. “I’ve been crushed under the weight of power all my life. I think I’m going to enjoy missing it.” She laughed at the lightness with which she dismissed royal power. Every moment was a surprise, these days. She hoped that that feeling would never end.
Source: Ventus (2000), Chapter 45 (p. 655)

Jason Kenney photo

“At that one very public moment, of a very public declaration of one’s loyalty to one’s fellow citizens and country, one should do so openly, proudly and publicly, without one’s face hidden.”

Jason Kenney (1968) Canadian politician and 18th Premier of Alberta

On banning wearing of the niqab during Canadian citizenship ceremonies https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/16/canada-government-islamic-veil-niqab-ban-citizenship (16 September 2015)
2010s

Emer de Vattel photo

“Because if you were born there to a foreigner, this country will only be the place of your birth, without being your homeland.”

The Law of Nations (1758)
Original: (fr) car si vous y etes ne d'un etranger, ce pays sera seulement le lieu de votre naissance, sans etre votre patrie

Emer de Vattel photo

“The natural, or indigenous, are those born in the country, parents who are citizens.”

The Law of Nations (1758)
Original: (fr) Les naturels, ou indigenes, sont ceux qui sont nes dans le pays, de parens citoyens.

Basile Georges Casmoussa photo

“The only path to take to placate violence is dialogue. Only then will we be able to isolate these extremist groups and become a tolerant country. Now we must seek to be close to our small community and give ourselves strength and encouragement.”

Basile Georges Casmoussa (1938) Catholic bishop

Anti-Christian attacks in Iraq part of brutal strategy, says archbishop https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/17865/anti-christian-attacks-in-iraq-part-of-brutal-strategy-says-archbishop (30 November 2009)

Mengistu Haile Mariam photo
Kirsty Coventry photo

“I take any opportunity I can to raise our country's flag really high and get some shining positive light on things over there.”

Kirsty Coventry (1983) Zimbabwean swimmer

Website https://www.kirstycoventry.com/new-page

Michael Foot photo

“We are in for fierce and angry times in this country.”

Michael Foot (1913–2010) British politician

Speech http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1970/dec/03/coal-industry-bill#column_1506 in the House of Commons on the Coal Industry Bill (3 December 1970)
1970s

Zoran Milanović photo

“We, as a small country and a small economy, contribute little or nothing to climate change and global warming.”

Zoran Milanović (1966) Croatian politician

"Croatian President Elect Zoran Milanović Gives First TV Interview" in Total Croatia News https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/40884-croatian-president-milanovic (17 January 2020)

Prayut Chan-o-cha photo

“Politics should not be used to create hatred because the country is in trouble now. Don't take this opportunity to cause any further trouble.”

Prayut Chan-o-cha (1954) Thai military officer, junta chief, and politician

Source: "Prayut vows not to resign" in Bangkok Post https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2157447/prayut-vows-not-to-resign (31 July 2021)

Adolf Hitler photo

“The English language lacks the ability to express thoughts that surpass the order of concrete things. It’s because the German language has this ability that Germany is the country of thinkers.”

Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) Führer and Reich Chancellor of Germany, Leader of the Nazi Party

Source: 7 March 1942, quoted in Hitler's Table Talk, 1941–1944

Arthur C. Clarke photo

“Of course, we in the so-called developed countries thought we were civilized.”

Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) British science fiction writer, science writer, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host

At least war wasn't respectable any more, and the United Nations was always doing its best to stop the wars that did break out.''Not very successfully: I'd give it about three out of ten.
1990s, 3001: The Final Odyssey (1997)

“A warrior has no honor, no dignity, no family, no name, no country; he has only life to be lived, and under these circumstances, his only tie to his fellow men is his controlled folly.”

Source: The Wheel of Time: Shamans of Ancient Mexico, Their Thoughts About Life, Death and the Universe], (1998), Quotations from A Separate Reality (Chapter 6)

Vajiralongkorn photo

“Knowledge, understanding and cooperation will lead the country to happiness, security and progress.”

Vajiralongkorn (1952) King of Thailand

Source: "His Majesty presents televised end of year message" in Thaiger https://thethaiger.com/news/national/his-majesty-presents-televised-end-of-year-message (1 January 2021)

Vajiralongkorn photo

“I want the unity shown here with this goodwill to be an encouraging sign for everybody, all sides to perform their duties for the prosperity of our country.”

Vajiralongkorn (1952) King of Thailand

Source: "Thai King praises 'unity' in speech on final coronation day" in Rappler https://www.rappler.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-king-speech-final-coronation-day-may-6-2019 (6 May 2019)

Vajiralongkorn photo

“I shall maintain my loyalty to the country and honesty to the people. I will perform my duties to the best of my abilities with dedication, for the prosperity, peace and lasting security of the Thai kingdom, till the day I die.”

Vajiralongkorn (1952) King of Thailand

Source: "Pledge during an oath-taking ceremony at the ordination hall of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha after his investiture as Crown Prince" https://www.bangkokpost.com/specials/royal-coronation/royal_speeches.php (28 July 1972)

Bhumibol Adulyadej photo

“I do some things that are within my rights and then they see that it is something that is all right. So they begin to understand that I am doing things not for my own enrichment or my own interest. It is for the whole country.”

Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927–2016) King of Thailand

Source: "King Bhumibol's Reign" in The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/21/magazine/king-bhumibol-s-reign.html (21 May 1989)

Aleksandar Vučić photo

“If you live in a small country which is geographically at the crossroads, then your policy should be maintain peace and stability, either by not having arguments with anyone, which is impossible, or having arguments with everyone equally.”

Aleksandar Vučić (1970) President of Serbia

Source: "Serbia's Vucic plays down hopes for quick political deal with Kosovo" in Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-serbia-kosovo-usa-interview/serbias-vucic-plays-down-hopes-for-quick-political-deal-with-kosovo-idUSKCN26D1VQ (22 September 2020)

Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj photo

“We never hide our shadow, we give more power to our people, to our media. If our three million people participate, I think we are going to be a big, powerful country.”

Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj (1963) Mongolian politician

Source: "President: Empowered People Create a Powerful Mongolia" in IPI https://www.ipinst.org/2013/09/president-empowered-people-create-a-powerful-mongolia (25 September 2013)

Ruperto Santos photo

“Let us think of our country before ourselves, let us think of others before ourselves, let us thing of the teachings of the Lord.”

Ruperto Santos (1957) 21st-century Catholic Bishop of Balanga

Source: Church leaders hail Philippine peace deal http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2017/04/07/church_leaders_hail_philippine_peace_deal/en-1304176 (2017)

Mitch McConnell photo
Leopold II of Belgium photo

“If I do not promise Belgium a splendid government like that which founded its independence, nor a great King like him whom we mourn, then at least i believe to be a Belgian King in heart and soul, whose whole life belongs to the country.”

Leopold II of Belgium (1835–1909) King of the Belgians

Source: Bulletin Officiel de Congo Belge - Années 1908 et 1909, page 174. https://archive.org/details/bulletin-officiel-de-congo-belge-annees-1908-et-1909/page/n373/mode/2up King Leopold II in a speech on 17 december 1865.

Lawrence Wilkerson photo

“While we have significant relations on almost every level with Communist countries 10,000 miles away such as China and Vietnam, we have almost no relations with the 11 million souls on an island 90 miles off our southern coast where all this dynamism is beginning to show.”

Lawrence Wilkerson (1945) Chief of Staff to Colin Powell

Source: U.S. Cuba Policy: Ending 50 Years of Failure, Prepared Testimony to the Committee on Finance United States Senate  (11 December 2007)

Muhammad Iqbál photo

“Our India is the best of all countries in the world.”

Muhammad Iqbál (1877–1938) Urdu poet and leader of the Pakistan Movement
Marine Le Pen photo

“If one day, there is someone who is better placed than me to assemble the millions of French citizens who are needed to bring about the turnaround of our country, then I will step aside.”

Marine Le Pen (1968) French lawyer and politician

Source: Éric Zemmour overtakes Marine Le Pen in poll https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/far-right-eric-zemmour-overtakes-marine-le-pen-in-poll/

Adam Schiff photo

“You cannot trust this President to do what's right for the country.”

Adam Schiff (1960) American politician

Source: " Rep. Adam Schiff: ‘You Can’t Trust This President to do What’s Right for This Country’ https://www.facebook.com/NowThisDaily/videos/rep-adam-schiff-you-cant-trust-this-president-to-do-whats-right-for-this-country/471259693815622/" Facebook video (January 2020?)

“People who live in totalitarian countries experience educational brainwashing and real fear of the government. They are not brave enough to stand out and express different opinions.”

Rebel Pepper (1973) Chinese political cartoonist

"Rebel with a cause: An interview with China’s most famous political cartoonist" in SAGE Journals https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0306422016657031a (29 June 2016)

Zhou Enlai photo
Arthur C. Clarke photo
Liu Yandong photo

“China has always followed the path of peaceful development, pursued a mutually beneficial and win-win opening strategy, strengthened friendly exchanges with other countries, and actively fulfilled its international responsibilities and obligations.”

Liu Yandong (1945) Chinese politician

Source: "刘延东出席第五届世界和平论坛开幕式并致辞" https://www.mfa.gov.cn/ce/celk//chn/zgxw/t1382124.htm (16 July 2017)

Liu Yandong photo

“In a certain sense, rural education is the foundation of rejuvenating the country and the key to benefiting the people.”

Liu Yandong (1945) Chinese politician

Source: "刘延东:让农村孩子接受更好的义务教育" http://www.gov.cn/guowuyuan/2013-06/18/content_2589584.htm (18 June 2013)

William T. Sherman photo

“You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our Country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out.”

William T. Sherman (1820–1891) American General, businessman, educator, and author.

1860s, 1864
Source: Retort to a lady of Confederate sympathies, who berated him for the wasting of Mississippi by the Army of the Tennessee during the Meridian Campaign ; cited in The Civil War Generation, Norman K. Risjord, Rowman & Littlefield (2002), p. 143 : ISBN 0742521699 , and in Fateful Lightning: A New History of the Civil War and Reconstruction, Allen C. Guelzo, Oxford University Press (2012), p. 439 : ISBN 0199843295

Helmuth von Moltke the Elder photo
Nambaryn Enkhbayar photo

“We aim to develop as a nation where healthy, educated people will live without poverty ... building a democratic country that is environmentally friendly, is connected to international financial networks, has a competitive economy and respects human rights.”

Nambaryn Enkhbayar (1958) Mongolian politician, Leader of Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party

Source: "In-depth interview - Reviving Mongolia’s early globalism" in Korea JoongAng Daily https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2007/06/05/people/Indepth-interviewReviving-Mongolias-early-globalism/2876407.html (5 June 2007)

Wang Qishan photo

“We need to respect the independent choices of model of technology management and of public policies made by countries, and their right to participating in the global technological governance system as equals.”

Wang Qishan (1948) Chinese politician

Source: "China’s Vice President Decries Technological Hegemony" in The Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-vice-president-urges-governments-to-address-their-domestic-problems-11548258999 (23 January 2019)

Bill Maher photo
Mary Harris Jones photo
Harry Truman photo

“People are very much wrought up about the Communist bugaboo... the country is perfectly safe so far as Communism is concerned—we have too many sane people.”

Harry Truman (1884–1972) American politician, 33rd president of the United States (in office from 1945 to 1953)

Letter to George H. Earle, former governor of Pennsylvania (received 28 February 1947); reported in The New York Times (3 April 1947), p. 17, quoting Earle.
Source: [McCullough, David G., Truman, 2003, Simon & Schuster, 978-0-7432-6029-9, 655, 869432463]

Justin Martyr photo

“The Jews were behind all the persecutions of the Christians. They wandered through the country everywhere hating and undermining the Christian faith.”

Justin Martyr (100–165) early Christian martyr

Source: See Antichrist and the Tribe of Dan https://books.google.com.br/books?id=mF8OAQAAIAAJ by Gerald Burton Winrod, Defender Publishers, 1933.

Bill Maher photo
Ana Brnabić photo

“When people feel that they are empowered… then they can do whatever they want to do. It’s their country to change.”

Ana Brnabić (1975) Prime Minister of Serbia

Source: "National Digital Transformation: A Conversation With Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic" in Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwolcott/2021/06/15/national-digital-transformation-a-conversation-with-serbias-prime-minister-ana-brnabic/?sh=429139813889 (15 June 2021)

Subramanian Swamy photo

“It is disturbing to read the amount of intellectual investment that has been made by the forces that are inimical to our country. These forces have penetrated into our democratic institutions to hollow them from inside.”

Subramanian Swamy (1939) Indian politician

2015-Present
Source: Foreword by Subramanian Swamy in Atri, N., & Sagar, M. A. (2017). Brainwashed republic.

Rajiv Malhotra photo
Wojciech Jaruzelski photo
Zhu Fenglian photo

“Those who forget their ancestors, betray the motherland or split the country will never come to a good end and will surely be spurned by the people and judged by history.”

Zhu Fenglian (1977)

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-it-will-hold-supporters-taiwans-independence-criminally-responsible-2021-11-05/ "China spurs Taiwan anger with criminal liability threat for independence supporters" in Reuters] (5 November 2021)

Cheng Yen photo

“A happy person creates a happy home, and from that is able to contribute to his country and finally the world.”

Cheng Yen (1937) Taiwanese Buddhist nun

Source: Master of Love and Mercy: Cheng Yen, p. 18

“Countries around the world are aiming to achieve a goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050, and public transportation is a key to achieving that goal. As such, we need to set a long-term goal for railway infrastructure as well.”

Wang Kwo-tsai politician

Wang Kwo-tsai (2021) cited in " East coast express train speeds to rise https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/11/30/2003768771" on Taipei Times, 30 November 2021

“The ladies of our country should be able to realise from this description the good fortune of their birth, and the extent of their freedom when compared with the position of ladies like them in other lands.”

Francisco Pelsaert (1591–1630) Dutch merchant, commander of the ship Batavia

Jahangir’s India
Source: quoted in K.S. Lal, The Mughal Harem (1988), 12

Bobby Heenan photo

“There's only two kinds of music I don't like....Country and Western.”

Bobby Heenan (1944–2017) American professional wrestler, professional wrestling commentator and manager

Misc.

Michael McFaul photo

“Today, however, Russia and China are united as autocracies. They do have this ideological connection. Both countries have tense relations with the United States and the liberal democratic world, and that brings them together.”

Michael McFaul (1963) American academic and diplomat

"Toward a “Grander Strategy of Containing Putin’s Russia”: Ambassador Michael McFaul on Engagement and Containment in a New Era of Great Power Competition" in The Yale Review of International Studies http://yris.yira.org/comments/5314 (June 2021)

Michael McFaul photo

“There is a big academic literature on under what conditions sanctions work and don’t work, on when they can change the behavior of targeted countries. And most times, they don’t work. That’s what the literature says.”

Michael McFaul (1963) American academic and diplomat

"Toward a “Grander Strategy of Containing Putin’s Russia”: Ambassador Michael McFaul on Engagement and Containment in a New Era of Great Power Competition" in The Yale Review of International Studies http://yris.yira.org/comments/5314 (June 2021)

Jussie Smollett photo

“It feels like if I had said it was a Muslim or a Mexican or someone black, I feel like the doubters would have supported me a lot much more. A lot more. And that says a lot about the place that we are in our country right now.”

Jussie Smollett (1982) American actor, singer, director and photographer

14 February 2019 interview with ABC excerpt in tweet https://twitter.com/abc/status/1096026425768005632 promoting their coverage https://abcnews.go.com/US/chicago-pd-locate-persons-interest-alleged-racist-attack/story?id=61075518
also quoted by Global News https://globalnews.ca/news/4960466/jussie-smollett-first-interview-since-alleged-attack/ and CNN https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/16/entertainment/jussie-smollett-attack/index.html and New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/arts/television/jussie-smollett-interview.html and Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/tv/2019/02/14/jussie-smollett-attack-interview-good-morning-america/ and The Daily Beast https://www.thedailybeast.com/jussie-smollett-in-first-tv-interview-youd-believe-me-if-i-said-attackers-were-black and Desert https://www.deseret.com/2019/3/27/20669388/jussie-smollett-says-i-am-a-man-of-faith-after-charges-were-dropped and RealClearPolitics https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/02/14/jussie_smollett_pissed_at_critics_if_i_blamed_a_muslim_or_a_mexican_doubters_would_support_me.html and Business Insider https://www.businessinsider.com/jussie-smollett-addresses-assault-doubters-good-morning-america-2019-2 and NBC https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/probe-alleged-jussie-smollett-attack-shifts-whether-actor-staged-incident-n972516 and PageSix https://pagesix.com/2019/02/16/nigerian-brothers-confirmed-to-be-in-surveillance-video-of-jussie-smollet-attack/, all of whom mutually left out the following sentence...

Alexis Karpouzos photo
Viktor Yanukovych photo

“And I would like to say: Glory to Ukraine, and I hope everything will be fine in my country.”

Viktor Yanukovych (1950) Ukrainian politician who was the President of Ukraine

Source: "Transcript: Ukraine’s Viktor Yanukovych on the situation in his country" in The Washington Post https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:DGoGVKRGNYMJ:https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/transcript-ukraines-viktor-yanukovych-on-the-situation-in-his-country/2014/03/11/ffb8fefe-a942-11e3-8599-ce7295b6851c_story.html+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us (11 March 2014)

Viktor Yanukovych photo

“The United States and a number of other countries have been stressing that I have allegedly lost my legitimacy because I fled the country. Let me say again: I never fled anywhere.”

Viktor Yanukovych (1950) Ukrainian politician who was the President of Ukraine

Source: "Transcript: Ukraine’s Viktor Yanukovych on the situation in his country" in The Washington Post https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:DGoGVKRGNYMJ:https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/transcript-ukraines-viktor-yanukovych-on-the-situation-in-his-country/2014/03/11/ffb8fefe-a942-11e3-8599-ce7295b6851c_story.html+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us (11 March 2014)

Augusto Sandino photo

“If we [lawyers] are corruption-free, the whole country will be corruption-free.”

Folake Solanke (1932) Nigerian lawyer

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/03/kidnap-of-schoolgirls-stop-paying-ransom-to-criminals-solanke-tells-fg/ Folake Solanke in 2021 cautioning lawyers against corruption.

Andrew Neil photo

“Britain should follow the French example — and also take note of what other European countries are doing — and penalise the vaccine refuseniks.”

Andrew Neil (1949) Scottish journalist and broadcaster

Source: It's time to punish Britain's five million vaccine refuseniks: They put us all at risk of more restrictions, says ANDREW NEIL. So why shouldn't we curb some of their freedoms? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10294225/Its-time-punish-Britains-five-million-vaccine-refuseniks-says-ANDREW-NEIL.html, as quoted in The Daily Mail

“Let us stop this system of putting people in positions just because of the contacts they have. That is a major reason why we remain a poorly governed and undeveloped country.”

Grace Alele-Williams (1932–2022) mathematician

Source: https://guardian.ng/features/how-to-have-more-female-vice-chancellors-in-nigerian-varsities/Prof Grace Alele on allowing qualified people in position regardless of the gender.

Oby Ezekwesili photo

“Nigeria needs to be rescued urgently. What we see in our country is massive failure of our leaders.”

Oby Ezekwesili (1963) Nigerian accountant, politician, human rights activist, convener of bring back our girls (Chibok girls) and pres…

Source: https://independent.ng/2019debate-30-powerful-quotes-from-oby-ezekwesili-reactions-to-questions/ Oby Ezekwesili's reaction to 2019 Debate.

Ebrahim Raisi photo

“We know that threats and sanctions from the enemy have brought difficulties to the management of the country, but there are also considerable sacred, popular, economic and international capabilities that can help us overcome these challenges.”

Ebrahim Raisi (1960) Iranian president

Source: 5 August 2021, Speech after oath taking ceremony in Tehran https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/463741/Raisi-officially-takes-oath-of-office-as-Iran-s-president

Nanfu Wang photo

“I’m pretty pessimistic about the Chinese government because I think there is no balance within it or any institution, country or organization that can hold it accountable. So, I don’t know what the future will be.”

Nanfu Wang (1985) director and filmmaker

Source: "It Didn’t Take Long for Me to Feel Empathy: Nanfu Wang on In the Same Breath" in Roger Ebert https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/it-didnt-take-long-for-me-to-feel-empathy-nanfu-wang-on-in-the-same-breath (17 August 2021)

Nanfu Wang photo

“The most repressed countries often produce some of the most amazing films. I think that it will push people to find a way to express their ideas in new ways.”

Nanfu Wang (1985) director and filmmaker

Source: "Hot Docs 2017 Interview: Nanfu Wang on “I Am Another You”" in Roger Ebert https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/hot-docs-2017-interview-nanfu-wang-on-i-am-another-you (3 May 2017)

“I have long been convinced in my own mind that the enslaving of Africans brought from Africa or those born in this country is unjust; and it is one of the sins of the land, and I would endeavor to free my estate from the cry of such a sin against it.”

Jonathan Todd (1713–1791) American Congregational minister

Source: His will, Feburary 3, 1791, quoted in Biographical sketches of the graduates of Yale College by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, vol. 1, p. 468 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015006955192&view=1up&seq=482

Prayut Chan-o-cha photo

“If this person says, this side good, that side not good, if media keeps presenting news like that, when will our country have peace?”

Prayut Chan-o-cha (1954) Thai military officer, junta chief, and politician

Source: Media Must Do More Than Report Facts, Says Prayuth http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1425556914&section=11 (5 March 2015)

Bob Inglis photo

“The pitchforks and torches can tear down and burn up but they can't build up the institutions and communities so necessary to a stable and prosperous country”

Bob Inglis (1959) Former U.S. congressman

Source: "Bob Inglis: How I changed my mind about climate change" https://www.npr.org/2021/12/03/1061214253/bob-inglis-how-i-changed-my-mind-about-climate-change, NPR (December 3, 2021)

Mirza Masroor Ahmad photo

“If I am law abiding and honour all the laws of a country, I am integrated into society. If I am serving the nation with all my potential and capability, that is integration.”

Mirza Masroor Ahmad (1950) spiritual leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Others
Source: Loving country you live in part of Muslim faith, says Ahmadi leader, The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/06/loving-country-you-live-in-part-of-muslim-faith-says-ahmadi-leader,

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky photo
Naruhito photo

“I sincerely hope that our country, through our people’s wisdom and unceasing efforts, achieves further development and contributes to the friendship and peace of the international community and the welfare and prosperity of humankind.”

Naruhito (1960) Emperor of Japan since 2019

Source: "Naruhito: Japan’s emperor formally proclaims enthronement in centuries-old ceremony" in CNN https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/21/asia/japan-enthronement-emperor-intl-hnk/index.html (22 October 2019)

Henry Lawson photo
George Vella photo

“My appeal is to respect the people's intelligence and to put before them clear and unequivocal working programs and policies that will be implemented if (I am) chosen to lead the country in the upcoming general election.”

George Vella (1942) Maltese politician

Source: George Vella (2021) cited in " President urges politicians to 'respect people's intelligence' https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/president-urges-politicians-to-respect-peoples-intelligence.921130" on Times of Malta, 13 December 2021.

Andrew R. Wheeler photo

“If another country wants to buy fossil fuel on the open market, they should look to the United States; we do everything in a much more environmentally conscious manner than anyone else.”

Andrew R. Wheeler (1964) 15th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Source: Exclusive—EPA’s Andrew Wheeler: Green New Deal Activists Don’t Want American ‘Energy Domination’ https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/03/02/exclusive-epa-administrator-andrew-wheeler-green-new-deal-activists-dont-want-american-energy-domination/ (2 March 2019)

“Kosovo and Taiwan, as two democratic countries, will fight against authoritarianism side by side.”

Source: Blerta Deliu-Kodra (2021) cited in " Taiwan, Kosovo parliamentary groups formed to boost bilateral ties https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202112210007" on Focus Taiwan, 21 December 2021.

Mario Abdo Benítez photo

“We won't sacrifice our ties with any of our allies or good friends over business relations with another country. We firmly believe no country in the world can restrict our sovereign decision to make friends with another country.”

Mario Abdo Benítez (1971) 51.° President of Paraguay

Source: Mario Abdo Benítez (2019) cited in: " Paraguay will always be a loyal ally: Abdo Benitez https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/10/12/2003702215" in Taipei Times, 12 October 2018.

Bingu wa Mutharika photo

“We have depended on donor countries for scientific development for so long. It's time we commit more resources in our national budget to advance science and technology.”

Bingu wa Mutharika (1934–2012) politician and economist (1934-2012)

Source: Bingu wa Mutharika (2007) cited in: " Malawi president makes post-summit pledges https://www.scidev.net/global/news/malawi-president-makes-postsummit-pledges/" in SciDev.Net, 1 February 2007.

Dalton Tagelagi photo

“With a 97 per cent vaccination rate (against COVID-19 as of July 2021), it is a tremendous result, and it shows that the majority have chosen to be vaccinated for the safety and wellbeing of the country, and for our children.”

Dalton Tagelagi (1968) New Zealand politician, Premier of Niue and bowler

Source: Dalton Tagelagi (2021) cited in " Covid-19: Niue days from full vaccination, travel bubble in place by end of year https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/125617802/covid19-niue-days-from-full-vaccination-travel-bubble-in-place-by-end-of-year" on Stuff, 7 July 2021.

Nikol Pashinyan photo

“Humanitarian aid by a country that is selling weapons to mercenaries, which they are using to strike a civilian peaceful population? I propose that Israel send that aid to the mercenaries and to the terrorists as the logical continuation of its activities.”

Nikol Pashinyan (1975) Prime Minister of Armenia

Source: In an interview with Jerusalem Post https://www.primeminister.am/en/interviews-and-press-conferences/item/2020/11/03/Nikol-Pashinyan-Interview-Jerusalem-Post/ (November 3, 2020)

Wojciech Polak photo

“Patriotism, or our love for our country, obliges us to mutual good will, solidarity, honesty and concern in building our common home.”

Wojciech Polak (1964) Polish priest

Source: Polish independence centenary commemorated worldwide https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/polish-independence-centenary-commemorated-worldwide-3228 (11 November 2018)

Syngman Rhee photo

“When possible, children should be comfortable and free when they are playing or studying, and it is the way in a civilized country to make them more comfortable by not being too strict and giving grace and love at the same time.”

Syngman Rhee (1875–1965) first president of South Korea (1875-1965)

Source: Speech at the first anniversary of the founding of Seoul Board of Education (2 October 1957)

Abiy Ahmed photo

“Those who want to be among the Ethiopian children, who will be hailed by history, rise up for your country today. Let's meet at the front.”

Abiy Ahmed (1976) Ethiopian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate

Source: Abiy Ahmed (2021) cited in: " Ethiopia civil war: How PM Abiy led fight-back against rebel advance https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59552888" in BBC News, 16 December 2021.

Wojciech Jaruzelski photo

“The introduction of martial law was the most dramatic decision I had ever taken. And life had treated me harshly. I experienced my country's tragedy in 1939.”

Wojciech Jaruzelski (1923–2014) Polish military officer and politician

Source: Speech at Kansas State University (11 March 1996)

Azali Assoumani photo

“By launching the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in our country today (10 April 2021), we are taking a new step in our strategy to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. To set an example, I made a decision to be the first to take the vaccine.”

Azali Assoumani (1959) President of Comoros

Source: Azali Assoumani (2021) cited in: " Comoros president receives injection of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-04/10/c_139871604.htm" in Xinhuanet, 10 April 2021.