Quotes by Boris Yeltsin

About Boris Yeltsin:

Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was a Russian politician and the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999. Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. During the late 1980s, Yeltsin had been a member of the Politburo, and in late 1987 tendered a letter of resignation in protest. No one had resigned from the Politburo before. This act branded Yeltsin as a rebel and led to his rise in popularity as an anti-establishment figure.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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

There were no strategic mistakes that could affect Russia's history and it further development. No, there were no such mistakes. Tactical errors were made in some less significant options, problems and so on. But, on the whole, Russia embarked on a c...

Boris Yeltsin

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

We all have an equal interest in stability and security throughout Europe. The years the OSCE has existed, and particularly this year, have given rise to great expectations and at the same time to powerful disappointments.

Boris Yeltsin

We are well aware from which countries and through which countries the terrorists are receiving support. In the immediate future I shall be calling upon the leaders of these states to put a stop to this kind of activity.

Boris Yeltsin

There are numerous bugbears in the profession of a politician. First, ordinary life suffers. Second, there are many temptations to ruin you and those around you. And I suppose third, and this is rarely discussed, people at the top generally have no f...

Boris Yeltsin

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

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

Let's not talk about Communism. Communism was just an idea, just pie in the sky.

Boris Yeltsin

You can build a throne with bayonets, but you can't sit on it for long.

Boris Yeltsin

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

The most important thing is that Milosevic agreed to sit at the negotiating table with the Kosovo Albanians.

Boris Yeltsin

You have no right to criticise Russia over Chechnya.

Boris Yeltsin

A total of 1,580 people, the civilian population, suffered as a result of the bloody wave of terrorist acts that swept over Moscow and other towns and villages of our country.

Boris Yeltsin

Thousands of mercenaries, who have trained in camps on the territory of Chechnya as well as come in from abroad, are actually preparing to impose extremist ideas on the whole world.

Boris Yeltsin

International terrorism is throwing down a challenge, and not just to Russia.

Boris Yeltsin

I refer to calls for humanitarian intervention in the affairs of another state - a new idea, this - even when they are made under the pretext of defending human rights and freedoms.

Boris Yeltsin

Russia also declared its independence. This was approved by the Supreme Soviet, and you know and remember that there was the Declaration on the Independence of Russia.

Boris Yeltsin

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

Europe has found itself confronted with fresh challenges - challenges of a global character, the nature of which is directly connected with changes in the international climate and the difficulties of seeking new models for co-operation.

Boris Yeltsin

Author Bio

  • NameBoris Yeltsin
  • Description1st President of Russia and Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR
  • BornFebruary 1, 1931
  • DiedApril 23, 2007
  • CountryRussia
  • ProfessionEngineer; Politician
  • AwardsOrder Of Lenin; Order Of The Red Banner Of Labour; Order Of The Red Banner Of Labour; Order Of The Badge Of Honour; Medal "In Commemoration Of The 1000th Anniversary Of Kazan"; Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration Of The 100th Anniversary Since The Birth Of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin"; Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years Of Victory In The Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"; Jubilee Medal "60 Years Of The Armed Forces Of The USSR"; Olympic Order; Order For Services To The Fatherland 1st Degree