politicians-from-finland

"Our task is to fight against the Fennoman hordes and to defend our Swedish mother tongue, our Swedish law, our Swedish social order, in a word, our culture in all its forms against any enemy."

"Those nations which, like the tribes of the Chudo-Finnish, have never proved intelligent enough to become the advocates of freedom or civilisation, may, without the spirit of humanity shedding a tear on their graves, disappear from the earth, or they may, as peaceful peasants and countrymen, content themselves with the idyllic patriarchal life best suited to their loyal and slow nature."

"The strength of a nation was not based on the number of individuals belonging to it, but on their activity and intelligence. I therefore consider the Finns in Finland to be in the same position in relation to the Swedes as the Welsh are in relation to the English, with the possible consequence of the Swedes becoming Swedes."

"The Finns could not be reconciled to the right of self-determination of the peoples, because the conditions of the majority were not sufficient. Here it could not be thought that the Finns, as the lower educated, could suppress the Swedish minority."

"The words of the Russian ruler Alexander I at the Diet of Porvoo in 1809 on the elevation of the Finnish people to the rank of nations were the most insidious words ever committed to memory by the Finnish people."

"Many mocking stories about the Finns' kinship with the devil, the creation of the Finns and how it happened, and many others are commonplace, and are always received (by Finnish Swedes) with great joy."

"The nickname suomalaistollot is commonly used (among Finnish Swedes), and asking "are you Finnish" has the same meaning as: are you completely devoid of intelligence?"

"The Finns, who had not proved themselves intelligent enough to become the advocates of civilization, could safely remain peasants, while the most sacred pursuits of mankind [the promotion of culture] were to be left to the more powerful nations; such had been and still were the nations of the Indo-Germanic race."

"The overall vision for Nordic Cooperation is to make the Nordics the most sustainable and integrated region in the world. This conference is the culmination of a joint presidency project by Finland and Åland, with the aim of promoting successful forms of democratic governance and thus contributing to sustainable development and the Nordic vision. Close Nordic cooperation is a great asset to us all, including to the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland, bringing multiple benefits to the whole region."

"Can you die of being pissed off?"

"I can't remember the last time I was wrong."

"I'm God's choice to lead the people of Finland."

"I'm in opposition against to both the government and the opposition."

"Three reasons why young people don't have to worry about their future: education, politics and me."

"I'm younger than Donald Trump."

"I can not avoid my responsibility."

"They call me old, but I'm only 65-years old young man."

"Well, there must be the man in the house - and a mistress, too."

"Everyone has their own strengths. It just happens to be that in me, all these strengths are combined."

"I lost because of the "mediagame"."

"The amendment would introduce harsher sentences for serious sexual offences against children overall. In my view, that is fully justified, for example in light of a child’s vulnerability, even if the act does not meet the threshold for rape."

"We are oppressed and oppressed but one day we will rise."

"I can naturally not state the positions of Sweden, but according to my understanding our approaches are quite similar."

"In Finland, an amendment of the criminal code came into force this year. It expands and makes stricter the punishable scope of terrorism crimes. I also want to stress that when Finland respects the international human rights principles, and the laws that have been derived from them, it is in no way in contradiction with effective counter-terrorism measures."

"The dialogue with Turkey on this situation needs to continue."

"Finland condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and works actively to prevent it. Finland’s approach and deeds in fighting terrorism are already now fully aligned with the general line of NATO countries, also regarding the terrorism Turkey is facing. Also in this respect, the conditions of our membership are met."

"On our official visit to Turkey in 2015, together with my spouse, we could at close range follow the aftermath of an attack in Ankara; then we wanted to show our compassion to the loved ones of the victims and to condemn the act."

"Turkey’s concern over terrorism needs to be taken seriously. A large amount of Turkish people, ordinary citizens, have lost their lives in terrorist attacks."

"The surprise was that he took it so calmly"

"Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay"

"The masks have now been taken off, showing only the face of war."

"One may oppose immigration. It is an opinion of one's own. But questioning the dignity of an immigrant is unacceptable. (...) I have not seen that these people [the leaders of the Finns Party] who have been convicted exactly of insulting dignity would have shown efficient regretting."

"It has been thought, correctly and nicely, that everyone who is in peril will be helped. Practically this is implemented in the way that everyone who can say the word "asylum" is allowed to enter Europe and Finland, that word creates a subjective right to cross the border. Even for no proper reason, one gets a full investigation that lasts years, and if the preconditions for an asylum are not met, one can avoid coercive measures and thus stay in the country which he entered wrongly."

"Do we have to let every tree stay up and rot in the way that all our forests will turn into impassable thickets that are nicely called virgin forests? And just in order to ensure that every furniture beetle and cockroach can live a diverse and happy life. We the Finns are close to nature but why would we conserve so much that we run out of bread?"

"The people does know!"

"Even though Finland is one of the richest countries in the world, the people is largely poor and low-income."

"There is even racial hatred against us."

"Life was given to man"

"At the time we didn’t make any satisfactory progress, but we at the Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office are in constant dialogue with Russia. The President and President Putin are also in regular phone contact. We’re in the kind of situation where things can’t continue or worsen. If we don’t go forward by negotiating then it will be time for harsher measures. There are human traffickers and people smugglers, organised activities. The President even spoke of escorts and queues. Everything suggests that it is illegal organised immigration and it should be stopped."

"People in this country have been sceptical about if the Finns Party had what it takes to be a part of government. For a long time now, we have been the most steadfast piece of the puzzle, despite the challenges. Why? Because we keep our word."

"That’s a political decision. Finland has full control of its borders"

"I’ve been in contact with many of my friends there (Britain) this morning. As Independence Party supporters, they will not be swayed. They want out of the EU. A surprising number of Conservatives want out too, even in the upper echelons of the party"

"Our legislation in this area needed to be updated, and especially in light of France’s request for armed assistance after the attacks in Paris. We realized that our existing legislation was not flexible enough. We live in a fast changing world, and our laws on overseas military support must reflect new realities."

"If such a situation arises, that someone gains an advantage by waging war, that would be a bad example for small and weak nations. It is a shame for the entire international community, for the UN, international organisations and the superpowers that this can go on [referring to the Syrian Civil War. Of course public opinions need to be shaken up. We see demonstrations all the time about all kinds of things, but no one, nowhere has marched because of this."

"We have been discussing here that Turkey would take responsibility and the other European countries would make our own contributions to the cause. This way we can extend help near to the crisis, which would make it easier for the migrants to return to their homes once the situation has calmed down."

"Not even Hollywood would consider the script of credible."

"I promised to myself that I will never again obey anyone or any authority, government, gods or angels in anything else than in what I accept as the right or the best possible thing to do."

"The man receives four death sentences - yet lives nearly 90 years. He hadn't been to schools - yet he was as well learned and wise as the best professors. A great and confident man - yet modest and humble. He had friends from near and far - yet he was an independent lone wolf. Zen buddhist - yet a member of the Lutheran Church. Socialist - yet many capitalists were friends to him."

"Becoming aware, awakening, enlightenment, is possible right here and now, for everyone. From moment to moment, and yet only here and now, never sometimes, somewhere. Reality, God, is present here and now. The kingdom of heaven, blessedness, moksha, nirvana waits here and now. Outwardly nothing may happen, and yet a purely inner process can open up a new world, a new life, a new reality. - New? - Yes, really new, and yet as all those who have ever experienced it assert, at that moment we know that we have always been at home in that world, although we only now become aware of it."

"I will devote one third of my essence to the cooperative movement. But two thirds belong to humanity and myself. I will always practice new things, everything between heaven and earth. But a third I'm happy to give: and the rest two thirds supports greatly everything I can give to the cooperative movement."