“Despite all the achievements of civilisation, the human being is still one of the most vulnerable creatures on earth.”

I believe that the presidential term should be limited.

My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust.

Russian democracy is the power of the Russian people with their own traditions of national self-government, and not the realisation of standards foisted on us from outside.

Terrorism has once again shown it is prepared deliberately to stop at nothing in creating human victims. An end must be put to this. As never before, it is vital to unite forces of the entire world community against terror.

Nobody should have any illusion about the possibility of gaining military superiority over Russia. We will never allow this to happen.

Democracy is not possible without effectively working legal system.

I would prefer to abandon the terminology of the past.

The more intermediaries there are, the more problems there are.

The growing economic potential of India and Russia is mutually complementary in many respects.

Our society, including the liberals, must understand that there must be order.

The state security bodies should not be seen as an institution that works against society and the state; one needs to understand what makes them work against their own people.

We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them.

I think the international community should unite to fight such inhuman phenomena as terror attacks and the murder of totally innocent people.

If the nation is not capable of preserving itself and reproducing, if it loses it vital bearings and ideals, then it doesn’t need foreign enemies – it will fall apart on its own.

You can do a lot more with weapons and politeness than just politeness.

You must obey the law, always, not only when they grab you by your special place.

It is one of the enjoyments of retirement that you are able to drift through the day at your own pace, easy in the knowledge that you have put hard work and achievement behind you.

As a general rule, a reputation is built on manner as much as on achievement.

To be busy with material affairs is the best preservative against reflection, fears, doubts, all these things which stand in the way of achievement. I suppose a fellow proposing to cut his throat would experience a sort of relief while occupied in stropping his razor carefully.

To be a great autocrat you must be a great barbarian.

It is not the clear-sighted who rule the world. Great achievements are accomplished in a blessed, warm fog.

If your child marches to a different beat, a different drummer, you might just have to go along with that music. Help them achieve what’s important to them.

We are built to be happy, strong and healthy. I fear not to live. We have everything to live up to our dreams. You have everything to achieve that, and in a very short period of time you can get all the tools to manifest who you want to be.

That which neither weapon nor flame could accomplish will be achieved by a sweet speaking tongue in council.