Farewell Letter from Che Guevara to Fidel Castro Published: October 3, 1965 Source: "Texts," Modern Age 1988 Translation: Ch. Pantziou HTML formatting: Mike B.

Fidel, At the moment I remember many things when I met Mary at her home, Antonia, when you proposed I come along, the intensity of preparation. One day they came and asked who should be notified in case of our death. Then we realized the possibility. Later we learned it was true that in a revolution one wins or dies (if true). Many comrades fell along the way to victory. Today everything has a less dramatic tone, because we are more mature, but the event repeats. I feel I have done my duty towards the Cuban revolution in its territory, and say farewell to you, comrades, your people who now are mine. I formally resign my positions in the leadership of the party, my post as minister, my rank of commander, and my nationality. I have no legal binds me to Cuba. The only ties are of another kind-those who can not be broken as can appointments to posts. Reviewing my past life, I have worked with sufficient integrity and dedication to consolidate the revolutionary triumph. My only serious failing was not I had more confidence than the first time in the Sierra Maestra, and not having understood quickly enough your leadership and revolutionary capabilities. I lived next to you wonderful moments and I feel honored to belong to your people in the brilliant yet sad days of the crisis in the Caribbean. Few politicians are nowadays so brilliant as you. I am also proud to follow without hesitation, which was identified with the way you think and appreciate the risks. Other nations of the world summon my modest efforts of assistance. I can do what you can not because of your responsibility as the head of Cuba, and the time came to part. You must know that I do so with mixed feelings. I leave here the purest of my hopes as a builder and those I loved. And let the people who received me as a son. That wounds a part of my soul. I carry to new battlefronts the faith that you taught me, the revolutionary spirit of my people, the feeling of fulfilling the most sacred of duties: to fight wherever it may be imperialism. This is a source of strength, and more than heals the deepest wounds. I declare once more that I free Cuba from all responsibility, except that which stems from its example. If death finds me under other skies, my last thought will be of this people and especially for you. I am grateful for your teaching and your example, which will try to be faithful until the final consequences of my acts. I always identified with the foreign policy of our revolution, and continue. Wherever I am, I will feel the responsibility of being a Cuban revolutionary, and as such will behave. I am not sorry that I leave nothing material to his wife and my children. I was so happy. We ask nothing for them because the state will provide them with enough to live and be educated. I would have much to say to you and our people, but I feel it is useless. Words can not express what I want and there is no reason to spend pages. Always ahead for the win! Homeland or Death! To embrace with all my revolutionary fervor.