Ariel Sharon Quotes

As a Jew, it is my historic responsibility to defend the Jewish people. I feel this responsibility for the survival of the Jewish people. We're not going to accept any decision by anybody else about security of the State of Israel. It is our role and only our role.

- Ariel Sharon

Role, Anybody, Jewish People, Historic

Pope John Paul II was a man of peace, a friend of the Jewish nation... and worked for the historic reconciliation between the nations and for the renewal of diplomatic ties between Israel and the Vatican at the end of 1993.

- Ariel Sharon

Nation, Historic, Pope, Renewal

Iran, Libya and Syria are irresponsible states, which must be disarmed of weapons of mass destruction, and a successful American move in Iraq as a model will make that easier to achieve.

- Ariel Sharon

Will, Move, Which, Disarmed

To our Palestinian neighbours, I assure you that we have a genuine intention to respect your right to live independently and in dignity. I have already said that Israel has no desire to continue to govern over you and control your fate.

- Ariel Sharon

Fate, Desire, Over, Palestinian

There is a famous saying: 'It's hard to be a Jew.' It's also hard to be a Palestinian. I know that.

- Ariel Sharon

Famous, Know, Also, Palestinian

One generation after another is drifting away from anything Jewish.

- Ariel Sharon

Generation, Away, Another, Drifting

But there's one thing we are not going to compromise at all: when it comes to security of Israeli citizens and the State of Israel, there are not going to be any compromises - not now and not in the future.

- Ariel Sharon

Going, One Thing, Any, Compromises

Israel is the only country in the world that is ready to make compromises - even though it did not lose any wars.

- Ariel Sharon

Lose, Country, Though, Compromises

David Ben-Gurion understood that the public's trust is given to a leader in order to lead, determine clear goals and make difficult decisions. The fate of the people and the good of the state guided him, not polls, media treatment or measures of prestige.

- Ariel Sharon

Trust, Leader, Treatment, David

Hamas is a terror organization with a covenant that speaks about the elimination of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. They are not partners for negotiations.

- Ariel Sharon

Hamas, Terror, Jewish People, Covenant

I call on the Western democracies and primarily on the leader of the free world, the United States: Do not repeat the dreadful mistake of 1938, when enlightened European democracies decided to sacrifice Czechoslovakia for a convenient temporary solution... Israel will not be Czechoslovakia.

- Ariel Sharon

Leader, Czechoslovakia, Convenient

We extend our hand towards peace. Our people are committed to peace. We know that peace entails painful compromise for both sides.

- Ariel Sharon

Committed, Entails, Towards, Extend

Every leaving of a Jewish community is a most difficult thing.

- Ariel Sharon

Jewish Community, Most, Most Difficult Thing

If I have to advise our brothers in France, I'll tell them one thing - move to Israel, as early as possible. I say that to Jews all around the world, but there I think it's a must and they have to move immediately.

- Ariel Sharon

Tell, I Think, Brothers, Advise

We do not build new Jewish communities in Samaria, Judea and Gaza. The United States has never accepted our building of communities or of the fence. Yet, I've managed to develop relations between Israel and the United States even though President Bush never supported settlements.

- Ariel Sharon

United, Settlements, Bush, Gaza

The Jewish people remember the dramatic vote in the U.N. Assembly on November 29, 1947, when representatives of the nations recognized our right to national revival in our historic homeland.

- Ariel Sharon

Historic, Homeland, November, Revival

The State of Israel is not collapsing and will not collapse.

- Ariel Sharon

Will, Israel, State, Collapsing

I know more about wheat and olive trees than I do about politics.

- Ariel Sharon

Politics, More, Olive, Wheat

We have no desire to permanently rule over millions of Palestinians, who double their numbers every generation. Israel, which wishes to be an exemplary democracy, will not be able to bear such a reality over time. The Disengagement Plan presents the possibility of opening a gate to a different reality.

- Ariel Sharon

Numbers, Rule, Disengagement, Exemplary

You cannot like the word, but what is happening is an occupation - to hold 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation. I believe that is a terrible thing for Israel and for the Palestinians.

- Ariel Sharon

Like, Occupation, Terrible Thing

My opinions are aggressive, I admit that. But not my personality. I'm sociable.

- Ariel Sharon

Personality, Admit, Sociable, Aggressive

In all of my possessions, in all moments, whether hard or happy, I was accompanied by my dear wife, Lilly, who supported me wholeheartedly.

- Ariel Sharon

Happy, Wife, Possessions, Wholeheartedly

Legitimate steps of self-defence which Israel takes in its war against Palestinian terror - actions which any sovereign state is obligated to undertake to ensure the security of its citizens - are presented by those who hate Israel as aggressive, Nazi-like steps.

- Ariel Sharon

Security, Against, Undertake, Self-Defence

Expressions of disobedience naturally encourage terrorist organizations and motivate them to intensify their actions.

- Ariel Sharon

Disobedience, Naturally, Expressions

A day will come when other Israelis will be launched into space in the service of science and progress. For them and for us, Ilan Ramon will always be a source of inspiration as Israel's space pioneer, and his memory will be engraved in our hearts forever.

- Ariel Sharon

Memory, Other, Source, Israelis

Like all Israelis, I yearn for peace. I see the utmost importance in taking all possible steps that will lead to a solution of the conflict with the Palestinians.

- Ariel Sharon

Will, Like, Importance, Israelis

When I was born here on one of the farms in Israel, my childhood, I never thought for one day that we will not be living together with Arabs.

- Ariel Sharon

Childhood, Living, Here, Arabs

If there is something that I respect about the Arabs, it's the fact that they never change their position.

- Ariel Sharon

Change, Fact, Never, Arabs

Jordan is Palestine. The capital of Palestine is Amman. If Palestinian Arabs want to find their political expression, they will have to do it in Amman.

- Ariel Sharon

Will, Expression, Capital, Jordan

Close to 80 percent of all terrorist activity in Samaria was directed and financed either by Hizbullah or the Iranians. Iran continues to increase its involvement in terror attacks inside Israel, particularly through a small but radical minority of Israeli Arabs which Iran supports and directs.

- Ariel Sharon

Small, Through, Activity, Arabs

Arabs have the right to visit everywhere in the Land of Israel, and Jews have the right to visit every place in the Land of Israel.

- Ariel Sharon

Jews, Israel, Everywhere, Arabs

There is a feeling among the Arabs - encouraging terrorist activity is part of the broad new Arab strategy - that sooner or later, Israel will be forced to withdraw from Samaria, Judea and Gaza.

- Ariel Sharon

New, Activity, Encouraging, Arabs

Israel has many hopes, and faces extreme dangers. The most prominent danger is Iran, which is making every effort to acquire nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, and establishing an enormous terror network together with Syria in Lebanon.

- Ariel Sharon

Effort, Dangers, Prominent, Lebanon

I do know that Syria never will recognize Lebanon as an independent country, and the declaration of independence of Lebanon took place in 1943. Syria never - Syria never have recognized Lebanon. They regard Lebanon as part of Syria.

- Ariel Sharon

Independent, Country, Took, Lebanon

The strength that I have comes from irrigating the citrus plantation, ploughing in the vineyard, guarding the melon fields at night. I believe that's what gave me the strength.

- Ariel Sharon

Strength, Night, Believe, Guarding

Every Jew has the right to ascend onto the Temple Mount.

- Ariel Sharon

Right, Temple, Ascend, Mount

What would happen in the U.S. to terrorists who are not citizens? In less than 24 hours, they would be rounded up, taken to the airport and expelled.

- Ariel Sharon

Happen, Hours, Terrorists, Expelled

Arafat conducts terror; his strategy is the strategy of terror.

- Ariel Sharon

Strategy, Terror, His, Arafat

Arafat is the greatest obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle East.

- Ariel Sharon

Middle East, Middle, East, Arafat

We have to remember that Arafat was the one that started with hijacking airplanes already in 1968.

- Ariel Sharon

Remember, Started, Hijacking, Arafat

Arafat is hosting, training, supporting, sponsoring terrorist organizations.

- Ariel Sharon

Hosting, Organizations, Arafat

It was a grave mistake to dismantle the Jewish communities in Sinai.

- Ariel Sharon

Mistake, Jewish, Grave, Dismantle

Abu Mazen understands that it is impossible to vanquish Israel by means of terrorism.

- Ariel Sharon

Terrorism, Israel, Means, Abu

Abu Mazen is not a member of the Zionist movement. He is a Palestinian.

- Ariel Sharon

Member, Palestinian, Zionist, Abu

The problem is that Abu Mazen signed an agreement with the Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.

- Ariel Sharon

Problem, Agreement, Hamas, Abu

My first love was, and remains, manual labor; sowing and harvesting, the pastures, the flock, and the cattle.

- Ariel Sharon

Love, First Love, Flock, Sowing

Countries such as Iraq, Iran, Libya and Syria, which support terrorist organizations and use terror to achieve their objectives, are precisely the same countries working tirelessly to acquire weapons of mass destruction. This combination creates a new dimension to the threat on our way of life in the 21st century.

- Ariel Sharon

Achieve, Use, Mass, Tirelessly

You don't have to be a scared person. I've had so many tragedies. I've managed to withstand things that you may think you cannot tolerate. But I have the strength.

- Ariel Sharon

Strength, Think, May, Tolerate

The government, under my leadership, will act to implement the rule of law and to maintain the independence of the judicial system, which is one of the pillars of maintaining a democratic system.

- Ariel Sharon

Law, Judicial System, Which, Maintaining

I never had a political power base.

- Ariel Sharon

Political, Never, Had, Political Power

And Israel, being a tiny, small country, of course has interest to strengthen - we have interest to strengthen our relations with other countries, mostly countries that were hostile for many, many years.

- Ariel Sharon

Small, Country, Other, Relations

We have built cities, developed industry and cultivated agriculture - we have transformed the State of Israel into an example and symbol for many other countries in the world.

- Ariel Sharon

Other, Cultivated, Symbol, Transformed

To the citizens of Israel, I say: we have passed difficult years, faced the most painful experiences and overcame them. The future lies before us. We are required to take difficult and controversial steps, but we must not miss the opportunity to try to achieve what we have wished for, for so many years: security, tranquillity and peace.

- Ariel Sharon

Before, So Many Years, Controversial

The power of a person derives not from the office he occupies but from a clear sense of direction and aspiration and from a willingness to struggle for his ways and beliefs.

- Ariel Sharon

Sense, Clear, Willingness, Struggle

I believe orders should be obeyed, but sometimes you have to think about the orders you get.

- Ariel Sharon

Think, Sometimes, Get, Orders

One has to view things realistically.

- Ariel Sharon

View, Things, Realistically

If cars and buses were attacked daily by petrol bombs or stones for 16 months in Washington, could you imagine it would be tolerated? It would not, because in the name of democracy, to preserve democracy, steps would be taken.

- Ariel Sharon

Imagine, Months, Tolerated, Buses

The fight against terrorism is an international struggle of the free world against the forces of darkness.

- Ariel Sharon

World, Against, Terrorism, Struggle

It is impossible to have a Jewish, democratic state and at the same time to control all of Eretz Israel. If we insist on fulfilling the dream in its entirety, we are liable to lose it all. Everything. That is where the extremist path takes us.

- Ariel Sharon

Jewish, Democratic State, Liable

All together, we know for many years that terror is the most dangerous thing for local, regional and international stability.

- Ariel Sharon

Dangerous, Terror, Regional, Stability

Israel's security policy is determined by our needs. I strongly reject all the unfounded publicity suggesting that Israel is prevented from taking action because of international pressure.

- Ariel Sharon

Pressure, Needs, Our, International

I wouldn't go so far to say that destiny preserves me. I managed to survive and to succeed.

- Ariel Sharon

Destiny, Survive, Far, To Survive

The great question of our day is whether we, the Jewish people of Israel, can find within us the will to survive as a nation.

- Ariel Sharon

Survive, Jewish People, To Survive

It's very, very clear that you cannot move to the next phase unless the former one has been fully accomplished.

- Ariel Sharon

Next, Phase, Very, Fully

I have always maintained that the only group I belong to consists of my family, my wife Lily, my mother, my sons Omri and Gilad.

- Ariel Sharon

Wife, Always, Belong, Maintained

I don't see any situation where Israel will not be sitting on the Golan Heights.

- Ariel Sharon

Heights, Will, See, Sitting

As one who participated in all the wars of the state of Israel, I saw the horror of wars. I saw the fear of wars. I saw my best friends being killed in battles. I was seriously injured twice.

- Ariel Sharon

Best, Horror, Saw, Battles

I am the last person who would divide Jerusalem. I have said this many times. I don't plan to discuss any division of Jerusalem.

- Ariel Sharon

Last, Am, Many, Discuss

On April 19 1943, the Bermuda conference gathered, with the participation of representatives from Britain and the United States, in order to discuss saving the Jews of Europe. In fact, the participants did everything in their power to avoid dealing with the problem.

- Ariel Sharon

Participation, Conference, Discuss

The Palestinians should have understood by now that what they haven't gotten today they won't be given tomorrow.

- Ariel Sharon

Now, Given, Gotten, Understood

We have evidence that Iran makes a reactor to possess nuclear weapons.

- Ariel Sharon

Evidence, Makes, Iran, Weapons

Terrorists are trained in Syria, and weapons come from Iran and Syria, and I believe that's something that should be stopped.

- Ariel Sharon

Stopped, Trained, Iran, Weapons

I believe Prime Minister Blair is a friend, and a friend of Israel.

- Ariel Sharon

Israel, Prime, Minister, Blair

Even the sheep are afraid of me.

- Ariel Sharon

Me, Afraid, Even, Sheep

Even a superpower has limits.

- Ariel Sharon

Even, Superpower, Limits

Myself, first of all, I am a Jew. And that is the most important thing for me.

- Ariel Sharon

Religion, Important Thing, First Of All

Netanyahu is pressured easily, gets into a panic, and loses his senses... to run a country like Israel a leader needs to have reason and judgment and nerves of steel, two traits he does not have.

- Ariel Sharon

Leader, Country, Needs, Panic

I cannot say that the attitude of the United Nations always is for the Israeli attitude. Israel, I think, has been under severe attacks by members of the United Nations many times.

- Ariel Sharon

Think, Always, Been, Severe

If there is ever to be an end to the conflict, the Palestinians must recognize the Jewish people's right to a homeland and the existence of an independent Jewish state in the homeland of the Jewish people.

- Ariel Sharon

Independent, Jewish State, Conflict

The ongoing conflict between us has caused heavy suffering to both peoples. The future can and must be different. Both our peoples are destined to live together side by side, on this small piece of land. This reality we cannot change.

- Ariel Sharon

Suffering, Small, We Cannot, Conflict

I am 73 years old. I've seen everything. I've met the kings, the queens, the presidents, I've been around the world. I have one thing that I would like to do: to try to reach peace.

- Ariel Sharon

Old, Like, Been, Queens

Syria is hosting the most dangerous terrorist organizations.

- Ariel Sharon

Dangerous, Hosting, Most, Terrorist

One must remember that the Jews have one, tiny country, the only place they have the right and capability to defend themselves by themselves. And it is our duty and my responsibility to see that we will never compromise about that.

- Ariel Sharon

Country, Will, Jews, Capability

I think that Hezbollah, no doubt that they work together with the Syrians.

- Ariel Sharon

Work, Think, I Think, Work Together

I am working on the assumption that in the future there will be no Jews in Gaza.

- Ariel Sharon

Future, I Am, Will, Gaza

Israel is a society governed by the rule of law.

- Ariel Sharon

Law, Society, Israel, Governed

Peace should provide security. It should be durable. I'm ready to go far in making painful concessions. But there is one thing I will never make any concessions on and that's the security of the Israeli citizens and the very existence of the state of Israel. The Palestinians are losing time.

- Ariel Sharon

Losing, Existence, Very, Painful

I was born on a farm. My strength has nothing to do with political apparatus. I get my strength from nature, from flowers.

- Ariel Sharon

Strength, Flowers, Apparatus, Farm

I would like to be on the farm. To ride the horses. To watch the cattle, and the plantations, and the beautiful vegetables that my sons are growing there. I would like it. I am one of those who do not have to worry about what I am doing later. I love the fields.

- Ariel Sharon

Love, Doing, About, Farm

Israel, an embattled democracy, has been fighting terrorism for over 100 years.

- Ariel Sharon

Over, Been, Israel, 100 Years

As one who has been in hard situations, I believe that I know how to deal with complicated and hard situations.

- Ariel Sharon

Deal, Been, I Believe That, Situations

That is all that we want, what people want, what people want in New York, in Washington, in Pittsburgh, in any other place in the United States or in Europe. People want to live peacefully. That's what we want.

- Ariel Sharon

New, Other, United States, Europe

We don't have any intention whatsoever to use military force to solve the Palestinian problem. But when it comes to terror - when it comes to terror, I believe that military - the right military steps is a very, very complicated kind of warfare, where I make every effort not to escalate the situation.

- Ariel Sharon

Effort, Very, Use, Situation

Political life is like a big wheel: constantly turning. At times you are up, at times down. But always, the wheel keeps moving.

- Ariel Sharon

Big, Always, Like, Keeps

We have learned a long time ago that one cannot compromise with terrorists.

- Ariel Sharon

Long Time, Cannot, Learned, Compromise

The sad and horrible conclusion is that no one cared that Jews were being murdered... This is the Jewish lesson of the Holocaust and this is the lesson which Auschwitz taught us.

- Ariel Sharon

Lesson, Jews, Which, Cared

Israel may have the right to put others on trial, but certainly no one has the right to put the Jewish people and the State of Israel on trial.

- Ariel Sharon

Certainly, Jewish People, Trial

I established the Likud to serve a national idea and provide hope to the people of Israel, but it unfortunately can no longer do that.

- Ariel Sharon

Established, Longer, Provide, Unfortunately

We are together with the British and Americans because one should fight terror. But we are not going to pay the price for it by endangering Israel and its citizens.

- Ariel Sharon

Going, Pay, Terror, Citizens

I don't think I have accomplished what I still have to accomplish. There is one thing that I would like to do, and that's to bring security and peace to the Jewish people.

- Ariel Sharon

Think, Still, Jewish People, Accomplished

My strength never came from political echelons, it came from the family. And from the fields and the lands and the flowers and everything I see there. My strength came from there.

- Ariel Sharon

Strength, Flowers, Political, Fields

Both during the elections and as Prime Minister, I have repeatedly and publicly said that I support the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel.

- Ariel Sharon

Prime, Repeatedly, Alongside, Publicly

Staying in Likud means wasting time in political squabbles rather than acting on behalf of the good of the country.

- Ariel Sharon

Country, Wasting, Means, Behalf

I was born in the Land of Israel, the son of pioneers - people who tilled the land and sought no fights - who did not come to Israel to dispossess its residents.

- Ariel Sharon

I Was Born, Pioneers, Fights, Residents

There is no bullet-proof vest in my size.

- Ariel Sharon

Size, Vest

If there will be a serious Palestinian prime minister who makes a 100 percent effort to end terrorism, then we can have peace. Each side has to take steps. If terror continues, there will not be an independent Palestinian state. Israel will not accept it, if terror continues.

- Ariel Sharon

Effort, Independent, Percent, Steps

Israel is an independent country with a large army, and it has the ability to do what it thinks is right.

- Ariel Sharon

Independent, Country, Army, Thinks

I believe that the Jewish state will exist forever.

- Ariel Sharon

Will, Exist, I Believe That, Jewish State

Israel is a wonderful country. It's a beautiful country. It is ours. But it is a country with 10,000 problems that we have to solve and deal.

- Ariel Sharon

Beautiful, Country, Deal, Solve

As long as I'm needed. I'll be ready to serve. I look forward with optimism. We need the Jews here. Move to Israel! Move to Israel!

- Ariel Sharon

Optimism, Here, Move, Ready

I have worries, but in difficult times, that is when I am quiet.

- Ariel Sharon

I Am, Worries, Times, Difficult Times

I'm a friend of Colin Powell. We talk quite often.

- Ariel Sharon

Friend, Colin, Quite, None

My grandfather was facing this terror, my parents, myself.

- Ariel Sharon

Myself, Terror, Facing, Grandfather

Jerusalem is the holiest place for the Jewish people.

- Ariel Sharon

Place, Jewish, Jewish People, Jerusalem

One cannot negotiate under fire.

- Ariel Sharon

Fire, Cannot, Negotiate

A lie should be tried in a place where it will attract the attention of the world.

- Ariel Sharon

World, Will, Tried, Attention

The Palestinians have arrived at the conclusion that nothing can be achieved using terror.

- Ariel Sharon

Conclusion, Arrived, Using, Palestinians

It is in Israel's interest not to govern the Palestinians but for the Palestinians to govern themselves in their own state.

- Ariel Sharon

Interest, Govern, Israel, Palestinians

I have absolute faith in the correctness of my course.

- Ariel Sharon

Faith, Course, Absolute, Correctness

For me, peace should provide security to the Jewish people.

- Ariel Sharon

Peace, Security, Provide

When it comes to matters of war and peace, we must not act rashly.

- Ariel Sharon

Peace, War, Act, Matters

There is no good terror and bad terror. Terror is terror. There's not terror that you can accept and terror that you cannot accept. Terror is terror. Murder is murder.

- Ariel Sharon

Bad, Cannot, Terror, Accept

Israel doesn't have to hide anything.

- Ariel Sharon

Anything, Israel, Hide

In times of peace, just as today in our fight against terror, the United States and Israel stand together.

- Ariel Sharon

United, United States, Terror

The United States cannot live with terror.

- Ariel Sharon

United, United States, Terror

I believe that Israel is much stronger than many of its leaders.

- Ariel Sharon

Stronger, Than, Israel

Israel does not start wars.

- Ariel Sharon

Start, Does, Wars, Israel

The right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel does not mean disregarding the rights of others in the land.

- Ariel Sharon

Mean, Jewish People, Does, Israel

Israel is the only democracy in this part of the world.

- Ariel Sharon

World, Only, Part, Israel

I like animals.

- Ariel Sharon

Like, Animals

I'm an optimist.

- Ariel Sharon

Optimist

No one wants to be beaten, even myself.

- Ariel Sharon

Myself, Wants, Even, Beaten

There is a deep-felt desire among the people to stand firmly together in dealing with the challenges of the future.

- Ariel Sharon

Desire, Dealing, Firmly, Among

A people cannot exist if there is no social solidarity.

- Ariel Sharon

Exist, Social, Cannot, Solidarity

I've been under security protection since 1978.

- Ariel Sharon

Protection, Been, Since, Security

I prefer to stay with Likud. I think I have to be in the party I managed to build.

- Ariel Sharon

Think, Build, I Think, Prefer

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.

Powerful Ariel Sharon for Daily Growth