Quotes from Vladimir Putin

The Russian people have their own cultural code, their own tradition.

In many countries today, moral and ethical norms are being reconsidered; national traditions, differences in nation and culture are being erased.

There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy.

We need business to understand its social responsibility, that the main task and objective for a business is not to generate extra income and to become rich and transfer the money abroad, but to look and evaluate what a businessman has done for the country, for the people, on whose account he or she has become so rich.

History proves that all dictatorships, all authoritarian forms of government are transient. Only democratic systems are not transient. Whatever the shortcomings, mankind has not devised anything superior.

Political activities in Russia should be as transparent as possible. Financing political activities from abroad is something the state should keep an eye on.

I think happiness is love.

Iraq is a small but very proud nation.

Libya is divided into tribes and clans.

It's a historical phenomenon that in 250 years, a nation could move from a colony into the most prosperous nation of the world and the leader of the world. It is indeed an achievement, a tribute to the talent of the American nation, the American people and an optimal political and economic system.

People are always teaching us democracy but the people who teach us democracy don't want to learn it themselves.

Russia does not want confrontation of any kind. And we will not take part in any kind of 'holy alliance.'

If someone wants to open this Pandora's box and deal with it, all right, go for it then.

Protest actions and propaganda are two slightly different things.

Journalism, as concerns collecting information, differs little if at all from intelligence work. In my judgment, a journalist's job is very interesting.

I'm eternally grateful to fate and the citizens of Russia that they've trusted me to be the head of the Russian government.

In some cases, I would not want us to follow their [Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton] pattern. I do not believe they are setting the best example.

Speaking seriously, Russia does not want to aggravate relations with anyone. We don't want any tensions. We want a good, friendly partnership with everyone.

Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan, 'You're either with us or against us.'

To pay more is the easy way. In fact, the solution possibilities to the problem are many.

I'm sure corruption in Chechnya is minimal.

If anybody,wants to get rid of us, then this is a different approach. However, we will get over it; you never know who is going to lose more with such an approach.

Thank God, I think no one is thinking of unleashing a large-scale conflict with Russia. I want to remind you that Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers.

The Cold War is over. The world has become much more complicated.