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The Great Gatsby
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George Papandreou Quotes

Greece has given Europe the opportunity to fix a defect in the euro zone, that is the fact that we did not have a fiscal union. Now steps have been taken to begin that process. And there is more solidarity from nation to nation, and that is a good thing. That has been Greece’s gift to Europe.

– George Papandreou

I never thought about becoming a politician. But during the military dictatorship, my grandfather was put in prison six times and my father twice. If my family and my country didn’t have this history, I might be a professor somewhere today.

– George Papandreou

The structures in Europe in a globalising economy need to be modernised, need to be more integrated, need to be stronger.

– George Papandreou

We’re very proud to be part of the eurozone. But this comes with obligations and it is crucial we show the world we can live up to those obligations.

– George Papandreou

We Greeks want change. We know there are problems in our system. We have great potential but we need to manage our country well. Now that hasn’t been done over the last decades. And that is, of course, what we are paying for.

– George Papandreou

There are certain moments in the history of a nation when the choices made define the decades to come.

– George Papandreou

When I was growing up in the United States and Sweden, I never thought about becoming a politician.

– George Papandreou

Countries are not like financial markets. Social change cannot be executed as swiftly as credit-default swaps. You cannot sell short on social commitments and practical responsibilities.

– George Papandreou

The Marshall Plan was after destruction, and the U.S. came to our help and obviously this was very, very important for the future of Europe. I think now we have all the capabilities of doing it on our own and, in a sense, we have to.

– George Papandreou

I never thought of politics as a profession.

– George Papandreou

The more there is a European solution to a theoretical, but possible, problem in the markets, the less we will have to talk about an I.M.F. solution.

– George Papandreou

Many people have been pontificating, and patronizing, and moralizing, and scapegoating, saying you Greeks, you are the problem. I would say we Greeks have a problem. We are not the problem.

– George Papandreou

I am proud of being a Greek of the diaspora.

– George Papandreou

We are on a difficult course, on a new Odyssey for Greece, but we know the road to Ithaca and have charted the waters.

– George Papandreou

I will always be upfront with the Greek people, so we can solve the country’s problems together.

– George Papandreou

I have always said I will be in politics to serve as best as I can and it will take me wherever it will take me.

– George Papandreou

Already people are saying we do need a change.

– George Papandreou

As long as I feel I am doing what I think is right and just for my country, for the Greek people, that is enough for me. Saving Greece from this crisis was the first thing on the agenda. We are now on a much more normalised road.

– George Papandreou

We have a rise of extremism because we need to give a sense that we are targeting some of the deeper problems in Greece, the injustices.

– George Papandreou

Politics also means educating people. It’s important to speak openly with our fellow Greeks, to tell them what our problems are and that we have to change something.

– George Papandreou

People would say you look weak if you’re not cursing the opposition and driving around in a big black car while always wearing a tie. Above all, to be ‘strong’ you’re always supposed to be giving orders.

– George Papandreou

Europe has a lot of strength. We need to pool that strength, and I am very much in favour of that – more of a deeper political union.

– George Papandreou

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