Fidel Castro, the Cuban icon!

History and Politicians have never been much of an interest to most. At least to teens. Let alone world politics, only very few know our own leaders and politicians to the core.

Having said that, there are names that immediately strike a chord when you hear them. Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro. Ever since I was a child growing up trying hard to get myself onto the world of history, these names kept coming back at me every now and then with the likes of our own Gandhis and Nehrus. Friends, Comrades and Allies, these two have inspired a lot.

The reason all the more simple.These legends are remembered for how they sacrificed their own for their respective countries. Mandela, the freedom fighter and president who liberated South Africa from apartheid and Castro, a revolutionary and a nationalist who governed the Republic of Cuba as the world's third longest-serving head of state, after Britain's Queen Elizabeth and the King of Thailand. 

Time Magazine in 2012 named Castro as one of the 100 most influential personalities of all time. One of the giant figures of modern history, Castro is both loved as a hero and hated as a dictator. 

Castro retiring the world leaves a void and nothing that could be penned would do justice to what he has done and been. So, here are a few of his quotes that I've come across in articles.

1. "Condemn me. It is of no importance. History will absolve me"

Castro in 1953, when he was defending himself at trial for his near-suicidal assault on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago de Cuba.

2. "I began the revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I would do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and a plan of action"

Castro in 1959.

3. "I'm not thinking of cutting my beard, because I'm accustomed to my beard and my beard means many things to my country. When we fulfill our promise of good government I will cut my beard"

Castro in a 1959 interview with CBS's Edward Murrow, 30 days after the revolution.

4. "I reached the conclusion long ago that the one last sacrifice I must make for (Cuban) public health is to stop smoking. I haven't really missed it that much"

Castro in December 1985 upon announcing he had stopped smoking cigars.

5. "One of the greatest benefits of the revolution is that even our prostitutes are college graduates"

Castro to director Oliver Stone in 2003 documentary "Comandante."

6. "I realized that my true destiny would be the war that I was going to have with the United States" 
Castro's opening quote in "Looking for Fidel," Oliver Stone's second documentary on the Cuban leader from 2004.

7. "I'm really happy to reach 80. I never expected it, not least having a neighbor, the greatest power in the world, trying to kill me every day"

Castro on July 21, 2006 while attending a summit of Latin American presidents in Argentina. 

Xxxx

-DC