Hồ Chí Minh > Quotes

“To reap a return in ten years, plant trees. To reap a return in 100, cultivate the people.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“It was patriotism, not communism, that inspired me.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“You will kill ten of us, we will kill one of you, but in the end, you will tire of it first.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“Remember, the storm is a good opportunity for the pine and the cypress to show their strength and their stability.”
― Hồ Chí Minh

“You can kill ten of our men for every one we kill of yours. But even at those odds, you will lose and we will win.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“It is well known that the black race is the most oppressed and most exploited of the human family. It is well known that the spread of capitalism and the discovery of the New World had as an immediate result the rebirth of slavery which was, for centuries, a scourge for the Negroes and a bitter disgrace for mankind. What everyone does not perhaps know, is that after sixty-five years of so-called emancipation, American Negroes still endure atrocious moral and material sufferings, of which the most cruel and horrible is the custom of lynching.”
― Hồ Chí Minh

“I follow only one party: the Vietnamese party ”
― Ho Chi Minh

“After the rain, good weather.
In the wink of an eye,
the universe throws off its muddy clothes.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“Mr. Schoenbrun, we have a secret weapon ... don't smile when I tell you this. Our secret weapon is nationalism. To have nationhood, which is a sign of maturity, is greater than any weapons in the world.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“I'm very moved to be here today, ... Our lives are now much better, but Vietnam remains a very poor country. We need to work much harder.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“The morning sun
shines over the prison wall,

And drives away the shadows
and miasma of hopelessness.

A life-giving breeze
blows across the earth.

A hundred imprisoned faces
smile once more.”
― Hồ Chí Minh, Poems from the Prison Diary of Ho Chi Minh

“I’ve never cared for humming verse
But what to do inside a jail?
I’ll hum some verse to pass long days
I’ll hum and wait till freedom comes.”
― Hồ Chí Minh, Poems from the Prison Diary of Ho Chi Minh

“The U.S. imperialists supply armaments to their henchmen to massacre the Indochinese peoples. They dump their goods in Indochina to prevent the development of local handicrafts. Their pornographic culture depraves the youth in areas placed under their control. They follow the policy of buying up, deluding and dividing our people. They strive to turn some bad elements into U.S. agents that they use for the conquest of our country.”
― Hồ Chí Minh, Against US Aggression For National Salvation

“When the prison doors are opened, the real dragon will fly out.”
― Hồ Chí Minh, On Revolution: Selected Writings, 1920-1966

“The great victory of April 30 represents the triumph of the entire nation, of justice over brutality and of humanity over tyranny.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“It may take three years, it may take five, it may take ten, but that will be the war of Indo-china.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“The U.S. imperialists are expanding their war against national independence and peace in Vietnam. They are committing monstrous atrocities and crimes more odious than the Hitlerite fascists.”
― Hồ Chí Minh, Against US Aggression For National Salvation

“Freedom for my people, independence for my country, this is all I want, all what I understand.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“These crimes were all motivated by economic jealousy. Either the Negroes in the area were more prosperous than the Whites, or the black workers would not let themselves be exploited thoroughly. In all cases, the principal culprits were never troubled, for the simple reason that they were always incited, encouraged, spurred on, then protected, by the politicians, financiers, and authorities, and above all, by the reactionary press.”
― Hồ Chí Minh

“Eyes must look far ahead, and thoughts be deeply pondered.
Be bold and unremitting in attack.
Give the wrong command, and two chariots are rendered useless.
Come the right moment, a pawn can bring you victory.”
― Hồ Chí Minh, On Revolution: Selected Writings, 1920-1966

“We are convinced that the Allied nations which ... have acknowledged the principles of self-determination and equality of nations, will not refuse to acknowledge the independence of Vietnam.”
― Ho Chi Minh

“I only have one desire, the ultimate desire is to make our country completely independent, our people completely free, all compatriots have food to eat, clothes to wear, anyone can study.”
― Hồ Chí Minh

“Freedom for my people, independence for my country, that's all I want, all I understand.”
― Hồ Chí Minh

“Among the collection of crimes of American "civilization," lynching has a special place of honor.”
― Hồ Chí Minh

“The Black is roasted, browned, burned. But he deserves to die twice instead of once. He is therefore hanged, or more exactly, what is left of the corpse is hanged. And all those who were not able to help with the cooking applaud now.

Hurrah!

When everybody has had enough, the corpse is brought down. The rope is cut into small pieces which will be sold for three or five dollars each, souvenirs and lucky charms to be quarreled over by the ladies.

"Popular justice," as they say over there, has been done. Calmed down, the crowd congratulate the "organizers," then stream away slowly and cheerfully, as if after a feast…

While on the ground, stinking of fat and smoke, a black head, mutilated, roasted, deformed, grins horribly and seems to ask the setting sun, "Is this civilization?”
― Hồ Chí Minh, On Revolution: Selected Writings, 1920-1966

“A revolutionary must have solid foundation of revolutionary morality in order to fulfill his glorious revolutionary task.”
― Hồ Chí Minh, On Revolution: Selected Writings, 1920-1966

“I only have one desire, the ultimate desire is to make our country completely independent, our people completely free, all compatriots have food to eat, clothes to wear, everyone has the opportunity to study.”
― Hồ Chí Minh

“Imagine a furious horde….This horde is transported with the wild delight of a crime to be committed without risk. They are armed with sticks, torches, revolvers, ropes, knives, scissors, vitriol, daggers; in a word, with all that can be used to wound or kill.

Imagine in this, a flotsam of black flesh pushed about, beaten, trampled underfoot, torn, slashed, insulted, tossed hither and thither, bloodstained, dead.

The horde are the lynchers. The human rag is the Black, the victim.”
― Hồ Chí Minh

“Look far ahead and ponder deeply.
Be resolute: attach and attack incessantly.
A wrong move and even your two chariots are useless;
Come the right juncture: a pawn can bring you
success.”
― Hồ Chí Minh, The Prison Diary of Ho Chi Minh

“I. With hungry mouth open like a wicked monster, Each night the irons devour the legs of people: The jaws grip the right leg of every prisoner: Only the left is free to bend and stretch.
II. Yet there is one thing stranger in this world: People rush in to place their legs in irons. Once they are shackled, they can sleep in peace. Otherwise they would have no place to layer their heads.”
― Hồ Chí Minh, Prison Diary