Cuba's Youth: Always Dawning

[S. E. Anderson]

Always Dawning

Granma | inte...@granma.cu

3.4.2026

Youth is always dawning: theirs are the renewed horizons, the vigor of beginnings, and the forces of enthusiasm that create, build, and dream; in them—in the impetus of the pioneer who begins to glimpse the Homeland, and in the yearnings and certainties of the young men and women who embrace it—the country possesses its greatest wealth, both for today and for its tomorrows.

 

Youth is forever dawning: theirs are the renewed horizons, the vigor of new beginnings, and the forces of enthusiasm that create, build, and dream. In them—in the impetus of the pioneer just beginning to glimpse the Homeland, and in the aspirations and certainties of the young men and women who embrace it—the country possesses its greatest wealth, both for today and for the days to come.

 

Ten Quotes from Fidel on Cuban Youth

 

Each of these quotes reflects a constant in Fidel Castro’s thought: the conviction that youth is not merely the future, but an active and transformative force in the present. As he himself once expressed, for him, young people are "the thermometer that points toward justice, the compass that indicates where justice lies."

1. "When, in the future, this revolutionary work is spoken of, reference will be made to a single generation—for in this historic moment, all generations have united; in this historic moment, we stand as one single generation, ready for battle."

 

2. "And what kind of youth do we desire? Do we, perhaps, want a youth that merely confines itself to listening and repeating? No! We want a youth that thinks... a youth that learns, of its own accord, how to be revolutionary—a youth that convinces itself."

 

3. "To believe in the youth is to see in them—beyond mere enthusiasm—capability; beyond energy, responsibility; beyond their youthfulness—purity, heroism, character, willpower, love for the Homeland, and faith in the Homeland!"

 

4. "In our country, we hold a specific concept: every young person must be prepared to lead the Homeland; every young person must be prepared to defend the Homeland."

 

5. "Young people sometimes need sports to channel the surplus energy they possess. Moreover, sports serve as an instrument of discipline, education, health, and good habits. Sports are an antidote to vice."

 

6. "This Revolution is the Revolution of our people; it is the Revolution of our youth; it is the Revolution of our students. Together, we forged it. Together, we defend it."

 

7. "Not everything has been accomplished—fortunately for you. Almost everything remains to be done. You, the youth, must participate decisively in the vast amount of work that still lies ahead."

 

8. "One must possess mettle to be a Young Communist; one must possess character to be a Young Communist; one must possess selflessness to be a Young Communist."

 

9. "We aspire for our youth to be better educated, more revolutionary, dedicated, and dignified—capable of both everyday heroism and the greatest of feats; to be imbued with solidarity, and fully conscious of the value of the ideas we defend."

 

10. "If the youth should fail, everything will fail. It is my deepest conviction that the Cuban youth will fight to prevent this. I believe in you."

 

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s. e. anderson
author of The Black Holocaust for Beginners
"If WORK was good for you, the rich would leave none for the poor." (Haiti)
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