Mikhail Kalashnikov

“The Germans made their weapons too complicated.”

“I would prefer to have invented a machine that people could use and that would help farmers with their work - for example a lawnmower.”

“I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists.”

“My spiritual pain is unbearable... if my rifle took people's lives, does it mean that I... am responsible for people's deaths?”

“I created a weapon to defend the borders of my motherland. It's not my fault that it's being used where it shouldn't be.”

“A weapon is a tool, and you can use it for good or for bad. It's the person who holds it that makes the difference.”

“I made it for the protection of the motherland.”

“I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence.”

“It is painful for me to see when criminal elements of all kinds fire from my weapon.”

“Blame the Nazi Germans for making me become a gun designer... I always wanted to construct agriculture machinery.”

“An inventor can't be an egoist. You have to think about the people, about the user.”

“When I see Bin Laden with an AK-47, I'm proud. But I'd be prouder to see a farmer with a Kalashnikov-brand lawn mower.”