Hugo Chávez quotes

Hugo Chávez was a Venezuelan military officer and politician who served as President of Venezuela. Known for his socialist policies and outspoken criticism of the United States, he led the country from 1999 until his death. He became a central figure in Latin American politics and inspired both strong support and significant opposition. Here are 113 of his quotes:

I am convinced that the path to a new, better and possible world is not capitalism, the path is socialism.

Hugo Chávez

I hereby accuse the North American empire of being the biggest menace to our planet.

Hugo Chávez

It makes one sad to see the sell-out of President Fox; really, it makes one sad. How sad that the president of a people like the Mexicans lets himself become the puppy dog of the empire.

Hugo Chávez

I'm not loved by Hillary Clinton... and I don't love her either.

Hugo Chávez

I have always said, heard, that it would not be strange that there had been civilization on Mars, but maybe capitalism arrived there, imperialism arrived and finished off the planet.

Hugo Chávez

I nationalize strategic companies and get criticized, but when Bush does it, it's OK. ... Bush is turning socialist. How are you, comrade Bush?

Hugo Chávez

Let the dogs of the empire bark, that's their job; ours is to battle to achieve the true liberation of our people.

Hugo Chávez

That man, the king of vacations... the king of vacations in his ranch said nothing but: "You have to flee." and didn't say how... that cowboy, the cowboy mentality.

Hugo Chávez

Let's save the human race, let's finish off the U.S. empire.

Hugo Chávez

But Cuba doesn't have a dictatorship - it's a revolutionary democracy.

Hugo Chávez

We have to re-invent socialism. It can't be the kind of socialism that we saw in the Soviet Union, but it will emerge as we develop new systems that are built on cooperation, not competition.

Hugo Chávez

The world should forget about cheap oil. The price will keep going up and some day arrive at US$100 per barrel.

Hugo Chávez

Dr. Insulza is quite an idiot, a true idiot. The insipid Dr. Insulza should resign from the secretariat of the OAS for daring to play that role.

Hugo Chávez

Fascists are not human. A snake is more human.

Hugo Chávez

The Devil is right at home. The Devil, the Devil himself, is right in the house. And the Devil came here yesterday. Yesterday the Devil came here. Right here. And it smells of sulphur still today. Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the Devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world.

Hugo Chávez

The grand destroyer of the world, and the greatest threat... is represented by U.S. imperialism.

Hugo Chávez

When imperialism feels weak, it resorts to brute force.

Hugo Chávez

Every factory must be a school to educate, like Che Guevara said, to produce not only briquettes, steel, and aluminum, but also, above all, the new man and woman, the new society, the socialist society.

Hugo Chávez

If the United States was mad enough to attack Iran or aggress Venezuela again the price of a barrel of oil could reach $150 or even $200.

Hugo Chávez

Knowing English is important, but for us Venezuelans I think it would also be important to know Portuguese. For that reason, we should evaluate the possibility of it being taught in our schools.

Hugo Chávez

What they have implanted here, which is really a 'gringo' custom, is terrorism. They disguise children as witches and wizards, that is contrary to our culture.

Hugo Chávez

Everyday I become more convinced, there is no doubt in my mind, as many intellectuals have said, that it is necessary to transcend capitalism. But capitalism can not be transcended through capitalism itself; it must be done through socialism, true socialism, with equality and justice. I'm also convinced that it is possible to do it under democracy, but not in the type of democracy being imposed by Washington.

Hugo Chávez