General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Reagan challenges the Soviet leader to embrace openness and freedom by removing physical and ideological barriers.
- In plain terms
- If you want peace and freedom, open the gate and tear down the wall.
- What can you take from it?
- True progress requires removing barriers to freedom.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What barriers exist today that need tearing down?
- How does openness foster peace?
Another view
The quote assumes the Soviet leader has the power to act unilaterally.
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