Mikhail Kalashnikov quotes

Mikhail Kalashnikov was a Russian engineer and lieutenant general, most famous for designing the AK-47 assault rifle. His invention became one of the most widely used and influential firearms in the world. He left a lasting legacy in military engineering and arms design. Here are 23 of his quotes:

I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

When a young man, I read somewhere the following: God the Almighty said, "All that is too complex is unnecessary, and it is simple that is needed" ... So this has been my lifetime motto – I have been creating weapons to defend the borders of my fatherland, to be simple and reliable.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

My aim was to create armaments to protect the borders of my motherland. It is not my fault that the Kalashnikov became very well-known in the world; that it was used in many troubled places. I think the policies of these countries are to blame, not the designers. Man is born to protect his family, his children, his wife. But I want you to know that apart from armaments, I have written three books in which I try to educate our youth to show respect for their families, for old people, for history.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

I wanted to invent an engine that could run for ever. I could have developed a new train, had I stayed in the railway. It would have looked like the AK-47 though.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

You see, maybe all these feelings come about because one side wants to liberate itself with arms. But in my opinion, it is the good that prevails. You may live to see the day when good prevails - it will be after I am dead. But the time will come when my weapons will be no more used or necessary.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

Blame the Nazi Germans for making me become a gun designer ... I always wanted to construct agriculture machinery.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

Whenever I look at TV and I see the weapon I invented to defend my motherland in the hands of these bin Ladens, I ask myself the same question: "How did it get into their hands?" I didn't put it in the hands of bandits and terrorists, and it's not my fault that it has mushroomed uncontrollably across the globe. Can I be blamed that they consider it the most reliable weapon?

Mikhail Kalashnikov

People often ask me how I feel about my invention being used to kill people every day and the AK being a common weapon of ethnic conflicts. I want to make it clear that I created my assault rifle to protect my country. You can blame politicians for its spreading out of control on a global scale.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

I made it to protect the motherland.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

I was a soldier, and I created a machine gun for a soldier. It was called an Avtomat Kalashnikova, the automatic weapon of Kalashnikov - AK - and it carried the date of its first manufacture, 1947.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

The fact that people die because of an AK-47 is not because of the designer, but because of politics.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

Life is composed of different inventions. I have continued to work at different things and rebuilt my home all by myself. I did it for the sake of satisfaction at doing something.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

Life can make you do many things, even kiss a man with a runny nose.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

I was trying to perform as best as possible. I was a boy at the time, but worked well with the sickle.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

I had to gain experience as I did not have a technical education.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

Man keeps inventing things all the time.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

I was probably born with some designing abilities.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

Life is composed of different inventions.

Mikhail Kalashnikov

Terrorists also want to use simple and reliable arms.

Mikhail Kalashnikov