“I almost laughed about the Machiavellian plans of the presidents of the United States.”
- August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016
- Cuban
- Revolutionary, Prime Minister and President of Cuba, Communist Leader
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Quote
“I almost laughed about the Machiavellian plans of the presidents of the United States.”
Explanation
This quote reflects Fidel Castro’s characteristic blend of sarcasm and political critique, directed at what he sees as the cynical and manipulative foreign policy strategies of U.S. presidents. By calling them “Machiavellian plans,” Castro implies that their actions are calculating, deceptive, and aimed at preserving power at any cost—a reference to the philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, who famously wrote that rulers must often act immorally to maintain authority. Castro’s remark that he “almost laughed” conveys both disdain and a sense of incredulity, mocking what he perceives as desperate or absurd efforts to undermine revolutionary movements like Cuba’s.
Historically, Castro had ample reason for this tone, having survived numerous CIA-backed plots, economic sabotage, political isolation, and military threats over decades. His use of humor serves as a rhetorical device to belittle the seriousness of American attempts to control or topple his government, while reinforcing an image of Cuba’s resilience and his own defiance. It positions him not as intimidated by U.S. power, but as amused by its inability to defeat a small but determined revolutionary state.
In modern terms, the quote speaks to skepticism toward great power politics and the hidden agendas often driving foreign intervention. It reminds audiences that behind official narratives may lie strategies designed to serve elite interests, not democratic or humanitarian ideals. Castro’s comment encourages critical thinking about how power is exercised and disguised, and it upholds a tradition of resisting domination with clarity, courage—and at times, well-placed irony.
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