Józef Piłsudski

I am not going to dictate to you what you write about my life and work. I only ask that you not make me out to be a 'whiner and sentimentalist.'

— Józef Piłsudski

Only the sword now carries any weight in the balance for the destiny of a nation.

— Józef Piłsudski

All that we can gain in the west depends on the Entente — on the extent to which it may wish to squeeze Germany, [while in the east] there are doors that open and close, and it depends on who forces them open and how far.

— Józef Piłsudski

Comrades, I took the red tram of socialism to the stop called Independence, and that's where I got off. You may keep on to the final stop if you wish, but from now on let's address each other 'Mister' [rather than continue using the socialist term of address, 'Comrade']!

— Józef Piłsudski

Poland can have nothing to do with the restoration of the old Russia. Anything rather than that – even Bolshevism.

— Józef Piłsudski

To be defeated and not submit, is victory; to be victorious and rest on one's laurels, is defeat.

— Józef Piłsudski

To want to, is to be able to.

— Józef Piłsudski

Bolshevism is a disease which is peculiar to Russia. It will never grow deep roots in any countries which are not entirely Russian.

— Józef Piłsudski