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Mikhail Kalashnikov Quotes

1919–2013 Russia

Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov [Russian: Михаил Тимофеевич Калашников] (10 November 1919 – 23 December 2013) was a Russian general and small arms designer, most famous for developing the AK-47 assault rifle.

Russia
Military leaders

Random Mikhail Kalashnikov quote

5 quotes

Before attempting to create something new, it is vital to have a good appreciation of everything that already exists in this field.

I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence.

Blame the Nazi Germans for making me become a gun designer … I always wanted to construct agriculture machinery.

I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists. … I would prefer to have invented a machine that people could use and that would help farmers with their work — for example a lawnmower.

Whenever I look at TV and I see the weapon I invented to defend my motherland in the hands of these bin Ladens, I ask myself the same question: "How did it get into their hands?" I didn't put it in the hands of bandits and terrorists, and it's not my fault that it has mushroomed uncontrollably across the globe. Can I be blamed that they consider it the most reliable weapon?

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Mikhail Kalashnikov (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.