The revolutionary leader died on Saturday. He was 90.
Here are some of his more memorable quotes about himself and communism in Cuba:
"Condemn me. It is of no importance. History will absolve me." -- Castro in 1953, when the young lawyer was defending himself at trial for his near-suicidal assault on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago de Cuba.
"I began the revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I would do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and a plan of action." -- In 1959.
"I'm not thinking of cutting my beard, because I'm accustomed to my beard and my beard means many things to my country. When we fulfill our promise of good government I will cut my beard." -- A 1959 interview with CBS's Edward Murrow, 30 days after the revolution.
"A revolution is not a bed of roses. A revolution is a struggle between the future and the past." -- In 1959.
"I reached the conclusion long ago that the one last sacrifice I must make for (Cuban) public health is to stop smoking. I haven't really missed it that much." -- December 1985 upon announcing he had stopped smoking cigars.
"I never saw a contradiction between the ideas that sustain me and the ideas of that symbol, of that extraordinary figure (Jesus Christ)." -- In 1985.
"Just imagine what would happen in the world if the socialist community were to disappear ... if this were possible and I don't believe it is possible." -- In 1989.