“Never have we stolen the intelligences of other peoples. On the contrary, in Cuba we have trained tens of thousands of doctors and other top-level professionals, for free, in order to send them back to their own countries.”
- August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016
- Cuban
- Revolutionary, Prime Minister and President of Cuba, Communist Leader
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Quote
“Never have we stolen the intelligences of other peoples. On the contrary, in Cuba we have trained tens of thousands of doctors and other top-level professionals, for free, in order to send them back to their own countries.”
Explanation
This quote highlights Fidel Castro’s pride in Cuba’s internationalist model of education and medical solidarity, contrasting it sharply with the “brain drain” practices of wealthier nations. By stating that Cuba has “never stolen the intelligences of other peoples,” he criticizes countries—especially in the Global North—that recruit or entice skilled professionals from poorer nations, exacerbating inequality. Instead, Castro emphasizes Cuba’s policy of training professionals, particularly doctors, with the express purpose of sending them back to serve their own communities.
Historically, Cuba has become renowned for its medical diplomacy, offering scholarships to students from Africa, Latin America, and Asia, and deploying Cuban doctors to underserved regions worldwide. Institutions like the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) were founded on this principle. Castro frames this effort not only as a humanitarian gesture, but as proof that a small, socialist country can contribute meaningfully to global development, driven by principles of solidarity rather than profit.
In the modern context, the quote resonates in discussions about ethical global education, healthcare equity, and international cooperation. It challenges dominant systems that often benefit from migratory flows of talent while depriving poorer nations of their educated citizens. Castro’s words call attention to alternative models of development, where the goal is not accumulation of talent for national gain, but empowerment of nations through mutual aid and shared progress.
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