“I noticed words crudely spray-painted upon the wall, perhaps by a young Berliner: ‘This wall will fall. Beliefs become reality.’ Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.”
- February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004
- American
- The 40th President of the United States, Actor, Politician, Governor of California
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Quote
“I noticed words crudely spray-painted upon the wall, perhaps by a young Berliner: ‘This wall will fall. Beliefs become reality.’ Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.”
Explanation
This quote, delivered by Ronald Reagan during his famous 1987 speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, is a powerful affirmation of the enduring force of human freedom and belief. By referencing graffiti on the Berlin Wall, Reagan elevates the voice of ordinary citizens—in this case, a young Berliner—whose conviction in freedom’s inevitability defies the oppression imposed by the wall. His repetition that the wall “cannot withstand” faith, truth, and freedom reinforces the idea that totalitarian regimes, no matter how physically imposing, are morally and ideologically unsustainable.
The speech took place at a critical moment in the Cold War. Reagan’s words were both a challenge to Mikhail Gorbachev and a moral rallying cry for the oppressed peoples of Eastern Europe. The Berlin Wall symbolized not just the division of Germany, but the broader division between freedom and tyranny, West and East. Reagan’s use of the graffiti phrase “Beliefs become reality” asserts that hope and conviction can transform history, a reflection of his characteristic optimism and strategic use of rhetoric.
Today, this quote continues to resonate as a symbol of nonviolent resistance and the power of ideals. Whether applied to struggles for democracy, human rights, or social justice, Reagan’s message reminds us that truth, faith, and freedom are more enduring than any wall or regime that seeks to suppress them. His words proved prophetic: two years later, the Berlin Wall fell, validating his vision and the courage of those who believed it would.
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