Quotes from Thomas Sankara

We must dare to invent the future.

Was it understood that the position of women in society means the condition of 52 percent of the Burkinabe population? Was it understood that this condition was the product of social, political, and economic structures, and of prevailing backward conceptions? And that the transformation of this position therefore could not be accomplished by a single ministry, even one led by a woman?

Per ottenere un cambiamento radicale bisogna avere il coraggio d'inventare l'avvenire. Noi dobbiamo osare inventare l'avvenire.

As revolutionaries, we don't have the right to say we are tired of explaining. We must never stop explaining. We know that when the people understand, they cannot help but follow us.

The woman leads a twofold existence indeed, the depth of her social ostracism being equally only by her stoic endurance. To live in harmony with the society of man, to conform with men's demands, she resigns herself to a self-effacement that is demeaning, she sacrifices herself.

Un militaire sans formation politique n'est qu'un criminel en puissance

N]othing whole, nothing definitive or lasting can be accomplished in our country as long as a crucial part of ourselves is kept in this condition of subjugation—a condition imposed over the course of centuries by various systems of exploitation.

Comrades, the Women's Union of Burkina is your combat weapon. It belongs to you. Sharpen it again and again so that its blade will cut more deeply, bringing you ever-greater victories.

Comrade revolutionaries, we should see to it that marriage is a choice that adds something positive, and not some kind of lottery where we know what the ticket costs us, but have no idea what we will end up winning. Human feelings are too noble to be subject to such games.

Conceiving a development project without women's participation is like using only four fingers when we have ten.

In every male languishes the soul of a feudal lord, a male chauvinist, which must be destroyed.

This struggle to defend the trees and forests is above all a struggle against imperialism. Imperialism is the arsonist setting fire to our forests and our savannas

We make every effort to see that our actions live up to our words and be vigilant with regards to our behavior.

Let there be an end to the arrogance of the big powers who miss no opportunity to put the rights of the people in question. Africa's absence from the club of those who have the right to veto is unjust and should be ended.

Without patriotic political education, a soldier is only a potential criminal.

he who feeds you, controls you

We must learn to live the African way. It's the only way to live in freedom and with dignity

We must dare to invent the future