UN General Assembly
1959

12. Never before has any social system dehumanized man to such a degree. But never before has humanism demonstrated what it means as an ideal and in its practical implications as in the Cuban revolution. The idea that man is the most valuable capital and that power, wealth and culture must be subordinated to the effective satisfaction of his physical and spiritual wants is the driving force of the new Cuba which is being built, in the face of prejudice, privilege, resistance and conspiracies. And in order "to raise justice to the sides and ensure that Cubans enjoy their full rights" the revolution has altered the system of land tenure, the taxation system, the tariff system, educational methods and even the way of life, thus laying the foundations for subsequent industrial development without sacrificing a single individual or public liberty. Today for the first time there is government in the name of the people, by the people, for the people. In other words: it is the people that governs, since the revolutionary power is their power and as such is the rightful government. But because the revolution is deep-rooted and broadly based on democratic ideals, it does not persecute or fear any opinion and protects the free expression of all ideologies, however reactionary or extremist they may be. Respect for the views of others and for the dignity of the human person is the ultimate key to the humanism of the Cuban revolution.