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Who really said it

The first duty of the revolutionaries is to tell the truth

A translated statement by Fidel Castro 1926–2016 · Cuban revolutionary and political leader
Disputed In copyright

Fidel Castro makes this point in his Camp Columbia speech of 8 January 1959. The checked Fidel Castro Reader translation says “all revolutionaries”; the searched wording substitutes “the revolutionaries.”

Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?

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Disputed wording — copy with the correction

“The first duty of the revolutionaries is to tell the truth” Fidel Castro, Camp Columbia speech, 8 January 1959. In the 2007 English Reader, p. 133: “all revolutionaries”; searched wording differs. · Verbatim: “The first duty of all revolutionaries is to tell the truth.”

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In context

Evoking the themes of truth, leadership and character. Theme: "The first duty of the revolutionaries is to tell the truth". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

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Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "The first duty of the revolutionaries is to tell the truth". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

Provenance

The source

Speech
Camp Columbia, Havana, 8 January 1959
English edition checked
Fidel Castro Reader, Ocean Press, 2007
Location
Page 133; translation variant

The first duty of all revolutionaries is to tell the truth.

Scanned 2007 anthology

How we verified this

  • The scanned anthology ↗ gives the speech date and the wording on printed page 133; its title and copyright pages identify Ocean Press’s 2007 edition.
  • A second English transcription ↗ conveys the same proposition with different syntax. Its inconsistent Delivered field is not used to date the speech.
In copyright

The exact English source checked is Ocean Press’s 2007 translation/edition, whose copyright page reserves rights. The age of the 1959 Spanish speech does not clear that translation.

Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.

Context

Why it mattered

Speaking after the revolutionary victory, Castro warns the celebrating crowd that the remaining tasks may be harder than the military struggle. He connects truth-telling with acknowledging setbacks rather than deceiving supporters, making the sentence a warning against exaggerated expectations.

Explore

Filed under

More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.

Truth Leadership Character

Go further

Dig deeper

Trusted places to keep pulling the thread — primary archives, fact-checks, and scholarship. We show how we used each one before you leave.

Scanned 2007 anthologywww.bannedthought.org

Actual printed p. 133 gives the all revolutionaries wording and Camp Columbia, Havana, 8 January 1959; front matter names editors David Deutschmann and Deborah Shnookal and 2007 Ocean Press copyright.
Another English translationwww.marxists.org

Prints Telling the truth is the first duty of all revolutionaries; title dates January 8 but Delivered metadata conflicts.
Wikiquote: cited translationen.wikiquote.org

Cites the searched wording to Fidel Castro Reader p. 133, while the scanned page actually uses all rather than the.
Fidel Castro biographyen.wikipedia.org

Biographical reference describes the 1959 revolution and his subsequent government.

The author

About Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro

1926–2016 · Cuban revolutionary and political leader

Fidel Castro led the movement that overthrew Fulgencio Batista in 1959 and subsequently governed Cuba as prime minister and president. His revolutionary speeches became widely circulated political documents, while Cuba consolidated a one-party communist state.

For writers & researchers

Cite this

The primary source (Chicago)

Castro, Fidel. Camp Columbia speech, 8 January 1959. In Fidel Castro Reader, edited by David Deutschmann and Deborah Shnookal. Ocean Press, 2007, p. 133.

This verification page

Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘The first duty of the revolutionaries is to tell the truth’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/the-first-duty-of-the-revolutionaries-is-to-tell-the-truth/

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