The wit of Meri

  • 2006-03-15
"We were with the rest of the world when [U.S. astronaut Neil] Armstrong took the first steps on the moon [in 1969]. We were with you when President Kennedy was shot. We knew what was going on outside the Iron Curtain. What we didn't know was the smell of a fresh banana." - in 2000 after receiving an honorary doctorate from St Olaf's College in the United States

"We were with the rest of the world when [U.S. astronaut Neil] Armstrong took the first steps on the moon [in 1969]. We were with you when President Kennedy was shot. We knew what was going on outside the Iron Curtain. What we didn't know was the smell of a fresh banana."
- in 2000 after receiving an honorary doctorate from St Olaf's College in the United States

"This is scum on the surface of the state cauldron, scum that we will gather with a ladle and throw into the slop pail... We will do it until there is no more scum left to gather."
- during a strongly-worded, controversial speech on Estonian Independence Day, Feb. 24, 1998, urging Estonians to vote out corrupt civil servants who have become rich while in office.

"Some public commentators have limited knowledge of the EU and are scaring people by claiming we are dealing with a monster similar to the U.S.S.R. This is not true. Those who say so are only demonstrating their ignorance."
- In 1998, countering opponents of EU membership. Critics have become fond of likening the EU to the Soviet Union.

"Security is like virginity: you're either a virgin, or you're not. You either have security, or you don't."
- in 1994, on why any half-way measures, anything short of full NATO membership, would fail to provide the Baltics with adequate security.

"I won't walk onto Estonian soil under a Soviet flag."
- in 1991, ordering authorities to take down a Soviet flag at the harbor upon his arrival from Helsinki, days after a Soviet coup failed and Estonia regained its independence.