"My plan was to land in Red Square, but there were too many people and I thought I'd cause casualties"

Mathias Rust's quote is a reflection of his effort to fly a little aircraft from Finland to Moscow in 1987. His plan was to land in Red Square, the iconic public square in the center of Moscow, but he recognized that the square was too crowded and he would likely trigger casualties if he attempted to land there. Rust's decision to not land in Red Square was a sensible one, as it would have been disastrous if he had actually triggered any casualties. His choice to land in a close-by park instead was a much safer alternative. Rust's quote is a pointer of the value of making smart decisions, even when it may appear like a bold or interesting choice. It also works as a reminder of the repercussions of our actions, and how they can have a lasting influence on the lives of others.