Pol Pot

Cambodian dictator, Khmer Rouge

Modern influential 163 sayings

Sayings by Pol Pot

When I die, my only wish is that Cambodia remain Cambodia and belong to the West. It is over for communism, and I want to stress that.

Unknown, possibly late in life. — Statement attributed to him.
Strange & Unusual Disputed

If you wish to live exactly as you please, the Angkar will put aside a small piece of land for you.

c. 1975-1979 — Slogan used by Khmer Rouge, referring to a burial pit.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

If you wish to live exactly as you please, the Angkar will put aside a small piece of land for you.

c. 1975-1979 — Slogan used by Khmer Rouge, referring to a burial pit.
Strange & Unusual Disputed

The Vietnamese never asked themselves, any more than had the French, whether the Cambodians wanted the new system they were introducing. They acted in the unassailable certitude of a superior truth.

Unknown — Quote from 'Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare' by Philip Short.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The Vietnamese never asked themselves, any more than had the French, whether the Cambodians wanted the new system they were introducing. They acted in the unassailable certitude of a superior truth.

Unknown — Quote from 'Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare' by Philip Short.
Strange & Unusual Disputed

To destroy you is no loss, to preserve you is no gain.

c. 1975-1979 — Slogan used by Khmer Rouge.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

To destroy you is no loss, to preserve you is no gain.

c. 1975-1979 — Slogan used by Khmer Rouge.
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

When the water is high, the fish eat the ants. When the water recedes, the ants eat the fish.

c. 1979 — Slogan used by Khmer Rouge after their overthrow, referring to their defeat as a temporary setback.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

When the water is high, the fish eat the ants. When the water recedes, the ants eat the fish.

c. 1979 — Slogan used by Khmer Rouge after their overthrow, referring to their defeat as a temporary setback.
Strange & Unusual Disputed

Those who go back first will sleep on cots. Those who go back last will sleep on graves.

c. 1979-1980s — Slogan aimed at 'persuading' reluctant refugees to return to Khmer Rouge controlled areas.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Those who go back first will sleep on cots. Those who go back last will sleep on graves.

c. 1979-1980s — Slogan aimed at 'persuading' reluctant refugees to return to Khmer Rouge controlled areas.
Strange & Unusual Disputed

To say that millions died is too much.

1997 — Interview with Nate Thayer for Far Eastern Economic Review, denying the accepted estimate of deaths.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

To say that millions died is too much.

1997 — Interview with Nate Thayer for Far Eastern Economic Review, denying the accepted estimate of deaths.
Strange & Unusual Disputed

The babies, the young ones, I did not order them to be killed. For Son Sen and his family, yes, I feel sorry for that. That was a mistake of when we put our plan into practice.

1997 — Interview with Nate Thayer for Far Eastern Economic Review.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The babies, the young ones, I did not order them to be killed. For Son Sen and his family, yes, I feel sorry for that. That was a mistake of when we put our plan into practice.

1997 — Interview with Nate Thayer for Far Eastern Economic Review.
Strange & Unusual Disputed

To keep you is no benefit, to destroy you is no loss.

1975-1979 — Common Khmer Rouge maxim, attributed to Pol Pot's ideology
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

We are building a new society, without rich or poor, without exploitation.

1976 — Radio address
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The Cambodian people are a pure and clean people.

1977 — Speech to cadres
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

It is better to kill ten innocent people than to let one enemy escape.

1975-1979 — Khmer Rouge directive, widely attributed to Pol Pot
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

We will smash the old society to build a new one.

1975 — Speech
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable