‘We cannot expect the Americans to jump from capitalism to Communism,

but we can assist their elected leaders in giving Americans small doses of
socialism until they suddenly awake to find they have Communism.’

- Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev, 1959

(the quote is accurate, but questionable if it was Khrushchev that said it)

"We Will Bury You!"

Monday, Nov. 26, 1956

At the final reception for Poland's visiting Gomulka, stubby Nikita Khrushchev planted
himself firmly with the Kremlin's whole hierarchy at his back, and faced the diplomats of
the West, and the satellites, with an intemperate speech that betrayed as much as it
threatened.
"We are Bolsheviks!" he declared pugnaciously. "We stick firmly to the Lenin precept—
don't be stubborn if you see you are wrong, but don't give in if you are right." "When
are you right?" interjected First Deputy Premier Mikoyan—and the crowd laughed.
Nikita plunged on, turning to the Western diplomats. "About the capitalist states, it
doesn't depend on you whether or not we exist. If you don't like us, don’t accept our
invitations, and don't invite us to come to see you. Whether you like it or not, history is
on our side. We will bury you!"

Just the day before, ambassadors of twelve NATO nations had walked out on a
Khrushchev tirade that lumped Britain, France and Israel as bandits. Now Khrushchev
was off again.

The Kremlin men cheered. Gomulka laughed. Red-faced and gesticulating, Nikita rolled
on: "The situation is favorable to us. If God existed, we would thank him for this. On
Hungary—we had Hungary thrust upon us. We are very sorry that such a situation
exists there, but the most important thing is that the counterrevolution must be
shattered. They accuse us of interfering in Hungary's internal affairs. They find the
most fearful words to accuse us. But when the British, French and Israelis cut the
throats of the Egyptians, that is only a police action aimed at restoring order! The
Western powers are trying to denigrate Nasser, although Nasser is not a Communist.
Politically, he is closer to those who are waging war on him and he has even put
Communists in jail."

"He had to," offered Soviet President Kliment Voroshilov. Khrushchev turned on him and
said: "Don't try to help me."

"Nasser is the hero of his nation, and our sympathies are on his side. We sent sharp
letters to Britain, France and Israel —well Israel, that was just for form, because, as
you know, Israel carries no weight in the world, and if it plays any role, it was just to
start a fight. If Israel hadn't felt the support of Britain, France and others, the Arabs
would have been able to box her ears and she would have remained at peace. I think
the British and French will be wise enough to withdraw their forces, and then Egypt will
emerge stronger than ever."

Turning again to the Westerners, Khrushchev declared: "You say we want war, but you
have now got yourselves into a position I would call idiotic" ("Let's say delicate," offered
Mikoyan) "but we don't want to profit by it. If you withdraw your troops from Germany,
France and Britain —I'm speaking of American troops—we will not stay one day in
Poland. Hungary and Rumania." His voice was scornful as he added: "But we, Mister
Capitalists, we are beginning to understand your methods."

By this time, the diplomats—who, in turn, have come to understand Mister

Khrushchev's methods—had already left the room.

Other Known Nikita Khrushchev quotes:

All the sparrows on the rooftops are crying about the fact that the most imperialist
nation that is supporting the colonial regime in the colonies is the United States of
America.

Bombs do not choose. They will hit everything.

But life is a great school. It thrashes and bangs and teaches you.

Call it what you will, incentives are what get people to work harder.

Do you think when two representatives holding diametrically opposing views get
together and shake hands, the contradictions between our systems will simply melt
away? What kind of a daydream is that?

Don't you have a machine that puts food into the mouth and pushes it down?

Economics is a subject that does not greatly respect one's wishes.

Even now we feel that Stalin was devoted to Communism, he was a Marxist, this cannot
and should not be denied.

He was a crystal of morality among our scientists.

He who cannot eat horsemeat need not do so. Let him eat pork. But he who cannot eat
pork, let him eat horsemeat. It's simply a question of taste.

I once said, "We will bury you," and I got into trouble with it. Of course we will not bury
you with a shovel. Your own working class will bury you.

I want to talk to these people because they stay in power and you change all the time.

If you cannot catch a bird of paradise, better take a wet hen.

If you live among dogs, keep a stick. After all, this is what a hound has teeth for-to bite
when he feels like it!

If you live among wolves you have to act like a wolf.

If you start throwing hedgehogs under me, I shall throw a couple of porcupines under
you.

In a fight you don't stop to choose your cudgels.

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no
river.

Revolutions are not made for export.

Support by United States rulers is rather in the nature of the support that the rope
gives to a hanged man.

The more bombers, the less room for doves of peace.

The press is our chief ideological weapon.

The purpose of the United Nations should be to protect the essential sovereignty of
nations, large and small.
They pay little attention to what we say and prefer to read tea leaves.

We say the name of God, but that is only habit.

What innocence, may I ask, is being played here when it is known that this virtuous
damsel has already got a dozen illegitimate children?

What the scientists have in their briefcases is terrifying.

When it comes to combating imperialism we are all Stalinists.

When you are skinning your customers, you should leave some skin on to heal, so that
you can skin them again.

Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!