Regardless from beliefs and political directions, there is always something inspiring that a strong personality has to teach the world and Fidel Castro belonged in that category. His death won't cease his memory, which will forever affect people's works.
Modern people aren't aware of his history - certainly they have to read about it -, but most of them, from old narratives, have identified his name as an important figure of humanity, to some acceptable, to others not. Apart from the bad moments that historians attribute to him, Fidel Castro had a bright side, which is reflected in his following quotes and conceals lessons that can be applicable to everyone's life for a better future.
"A revolution is not a bed of roses. A revolution is a struggle between the future and the past." Fidel Castro knew well revolution. The Cuban leader had a complete perception of how to be a revolutionist. He had much insight on revolutionary acts and that is why he succeeded in his goals. According to his words, revolution is changing the present by letting past go and defining a different future. That is what he did.
"I began revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I'd do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action." The Universe came to being from nothing. Every building begins to be built with one brick. Fidel Castro's revolution started with a few people and was expanded to millions. As he declared, his only strengths were his faith and his plan and this fact makes his achievements even bigger.
"Nothing in the world is irreversible, not even capitalism." The most heroic thing about Fidel Castro was not the revolution he led, but the fact that he believed that with this revolution he would change the world. With faith as his guide, Castro managed to persuade a single nation that he is the one they need and thus his legend became eternal.
"There is often talk of human rights, but it is also necessary to talk of the rights of humanity. Why should some people walk barefoot, so that others can travel in luxurious cars? Why should some live for thirty-five years, so that others can live for seventy years? Why should some be miserably poor, so that others can be hugely rich? I speak on behalf of the children in the world who do not have a piece of bread. I speak on the behalf of the sick who have no medicine, of those whose rights to life and human dignity have been denied." Here, Fidel Castro addresses the phenomenon that the rich are the reason that the poor are suffering, because the wealthy men deprive money from the homeless, the malnourished and the starving ones. Castro stood by the latter to protect their rights.
"I will not speak of him as if he were absent, he has not been and he will never be. These are not mere words of consolation. Only those of us who feel it truly and permanently in the depths of our souls can comprehend this. Physical life is ephemeral, it passes inexorably... This truth should be taught to every human being -- that the immortal values of the spirit are above physical life. What sense does life have without these values? What then is it to live? Those who understand this and generously sacrifice their physical life for the sake of good and justice -- how can they die? God is the supreme idea of goodness and justice." Fidel Castro led his life through his spirit and values and that is probably why he achieved being recognised as one of the most historical people ever lived on earth.
He had written in his autobiography (My Life: A Spoken Autobiography): "...quality of life lies in knowledge, in culture. Values are what constitute true quality of life, the supreme quality of life, even above food, shelter and clothing." For Fidel Castro, the greatest virtue a person can have is not the fortune of material goods, but the fortune of intellectual values. This is the only way this world can be a better place and whether Fidel Castro managed to fulfill an overall positive vision or not, he had definitely some quality views.
*The quotes of Fidel Castro were collected from the popular quotes' websites: GoodReads and BrainyQuote.