ByQuotes

Natan Sharansky Quotes

Powerful Natan Sharansky for Daily Growth

About Natan Sharansky

Natan Sharansky, born Anatoliy Borisovich Shcharansky on January 20, 1948, in Soviet Ukraine, is a renowned Russian Jewish political activist, writer, and former refusenik who spent nine years as a prisoner of the Soviet gulag system. His life and works have been deeply influenced by his commitment to Zionism and democratic values. Raised in a Jewish family, Sharansky showed an early interest in politics and activism. He joined the Zionist movement as a teenager and was expelled from Moscow State University for his activities. In 1973, he was arrested and charged with treason, a common tactic used by the Soviet regime to silence dissenters. After eight years of incarceration, including seven in harsh labor camps, he was finally released in 1986 following pressure from Western governments and human rights activists. Upon his release, Sharansky immigrated to Israel and was immediately inducted into the Israeli Army. He later served as a member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) for over 20 years, where he advocated for democratic reforms and maintained close ties with various Western governments. Sharansky is best known for his book "Fear No Evil" (1988), which chronicles his imprisonment in the Soviet Union and his struggle for freedom. His other notable works include "The Case for Democracy" (2004) and "Never Alone: Prison, Politics, and the Making of a Future" (2013). In these books, he argues passionately for the importance of democracy as a universal value and the role it plays in combating extremism. Today, Sharansky continues his advocacy work as the Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel and is considered one of the most influential figures in Israeli politics and Zionist thought. His life story serves as an inspiring testament to the power of individual courage in the face of oppression and the importance of democratic values in maintaining a free and just society.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon people from outside; it is something they gain for themselves."

This quote by Natan Sharansky emphasizes that freedom is not an inherent right or privilege, but rather, it is something that individuals must strive to attain and maintain through their own actions. In other words, true freedom cannot be granted to people from an external source; instead, it is a value that people achieve when they stand up for themselves and their rights. This insight reminds us of the importance of personal responsibility, self-determination, and resilience in pursuing and protecting our own freedoms.

"A person can live without freedom, but he can't live without hope."

This quote emphasizes that while people can endure living without freedom, they cannot survive without hope. Hope provides a fundamental drive, a motivation to keep going amid adversity or repression, offering the belief in a better future. It serves as a vital emotional and psychological support system for individuals, empowering them to persevere and strive for change, even under oppressive circumstances. In essence, hope is an essential aspect of human existence and resilience, fostering a sense of purpose and giving meaning to our lives.

"Truth does not need our protection; on the contrary, we need its protection."

This quote by Natan Sharansky suggests that truth is a powerful and enduring force that does not require human intervention for preservation. Instead, it is humanity that needs to protect truth from manipulation, distortion, or suppression. Truth, being inherently honest and reliable, has an innate capacity to persist despite attempts to alter or conceal it. It's a reminder that the pursuit of truth serves not only as a cornerstone for knowledge but also as a guardian of our integrity and humanity.

"Democracy is not just about elections, it's about human dignity and the protection of basic human rights."

This quote by Natan Sharansky highlights that democracy extends beyond mere voting processes; it encompasses the respect for and protection of fundamental human rights and human dignity. Essentially, a truly democratic society ensures individuals are treated with respect, their basic rights are safeguarded, and they have the freedom to make choices, thereby upholding their inherent worth as humans.

"In a society where some men decide upon the fates of others, there can be no justice or peace."

This quote underscores that in a society structured around absolute power, where certain individuals have the authority to make decisions affecting others' lives, there cannot exist true justice or peace. The absence of equality and fairness among citizens undermines both the principles of justice, which uphold fair treatment for all, and peace, which requires mutual respect and understanding. Instead, such a society breeds tension, conflict, and injustice.

By focusing once and for all on helping the Palestinians build a free society, I have no doubt that an historic compromise between Israelis and Palestinians can be reached and that peace can prevail.

- Natan Sharansky

Doubt, Historic, Helping, Compromise

It is not surprising, then, that in the decade since Oslo began, Arafat used all the resources placed at his disposal to fan the flames of hatred against Israel.

- Natan Sharansky

Decade, Began, Placed, Flames

By helping readers understand these mechanics, I hope they will appreciate why freedom is for everyone, why it is essential for our security and why the free world plays a critically important role in advancing democracy around the globe.

- Natan Sharansky

Why, Role, Helping, Essential

The central premise behind Oslo was that if Arafat were given enough legitimacy, territory, weapons and money, he would use his power to fight terror and make peace with Israel.

- Natan Sharansky

Behind, Given, Terror, Premise

Arafat rejected the deal because, as a dictator who had directed all his energies toward strengthening the Palestinians hatred toward Israel, Arafat could not afford to make peace.

- Natan Sharansky

Deal, Directed, Rejected, Energies

Of course, there can be serious injustices within free societies.

- Natan Sharansky

Within, Free Societies, Injustices

Free societies are societies in which the right of dissent is protected.

- Natan Sharansky

Dissent, Which, Protected, Free Societies

When we are unwilling to draw clear moral lines between free societies and fear societies, when we are unwilling to call the former good and the latter evil, we will not be able to advance the cause of peace because peace cannot be disconnected from freedom.

- Natan Sharansky

Good, Cause, Unwilling, Free Societies

I have no doubt that given a real choice, the vast majority of Muslims and Arabs, like everyone else will choose a free society over a fear society.

- Natan Sharansky

Over, Given, Everyone Else, Arabs

To understand why dictators have a problem with making peace - or at least a genuine peace - the link between the nature of a regime and its external behavior must be understood.

- Natan Sharansky

Nature, Making, Regime, External

Non-democratic regimes always need to mobilize their people against external enemies in order to maintain internal stability.

- Natan Sharansky

Need, Always, Internal, Regimes

People may believe that there can be a society where dissent is not permitted, but which is nonetheless not a fear society because everyone agrees with one another and therefore no one wants to dissent.

- Natan Sharansky

Dissent, May, Which, Permitted

Will dissent be permitted? The answer to that question will determine whether the society is a free society or a fear society.

- Natan Sharansky

Society, Dissent, Answer, Permitted

On the other hand, if the free world is concerned with how a new Palestinian leader governs, then the peace process will have a real chance to succeed.

- Natan Sharansky

Leader, New, Other, Peace Process

Just as the 99% of Soviet citizens who supported the Soviet regime in 1985 was no indication of what the people inside the USSR really thought, the army of true believers that we think we see in the Arab world is an illusion.

- Natan Sharansky

Thought, Think, Regime, Arab World

The two most important things that can be done to promote democracy in the world is first, to bring moral clarity back to world affairs and second, to link international policies to the advance of democracy around the globe.

- Natan Sharansky

Bring, Important Things, Affairs

In contrast, fear societies are societies in which dissent is banned.

- Natan Sharansky

Dissent, Contrast, Which, Banned

This scepticism is the same scepticism I heard a generation ago in the USSR when few thought that a democratic transformation behind the iron curtain was possible.

- Natan Sharansky

Generation, Thought, Behind, Iron Curtain

Can someone within that society walk into the town square and say what they want without fear of being punished for his or her views? If so, then that society is a free society. If not, it is a fear society.

- Natan Sharansky

Want, Within, Town, Free Society

I am optimistic that peace can be achieved in the region because I believe that every society on earth can be free and that if freedom comes to the Middle East, there can be peace.

- Natan Sharansky

Middle, I Believe That, Am, Region

Unfortunately, little attention was paid to how Arafat ruled. In fact, some saw the harsh and repressive nature of Arafat's regime as actually bolstering the prospects for peace.

- Natan Sharansky

Nature, Fact, Some, Arafat

My optimism is not based primarily on the successful march of democracy in recent times but rather is based on the experience of having lived in a fear society and studied the mechanics of tyranny that sustain such a society.

- Natan Sharansky

Tyranny, Based, Having, Recent

Democratic leaders, whose power is ultimately dependent on popular support, are held accountable for failing to improve the lives of their citizens. Therefore, they have a powerful incentive to keep their societies peaceful and prosperous.

- Natan Sharansky

Accountable, Lives, Held, Dependent

Japan is not a Western democracy. The Japanese have kept their traditions, culture and heritage, but they have joined the community of free nations.

- Natan Sharansky

Heritage, Japan, Joined, Traditions

I was inspired to write this book by those who are sceptical of the power of freedom to change the world.

- Natan Sharansky

Change, Book, Sceptical, Change The World

The only peace that can be made with a dictator is once that must be based on deterrence. For today, the dictator may be your friend, but tomorrow he will need you as an enemy.

- Natan Sharansky

Will, May, Based, Deterrence

The message of the free world to any potential Palestinian leadership should be a simple one: Embrace democratic reform and we will embrace you.

- Natan Sharansky

Simple, Embrace, Will, Free World

It is important to remember that some of the most serious thinkers once thought that democracy was not compatible with the cultures of Germany, Italy, Japan, Latin America and Russia.

- Natan Sharansky

Thought, Some, Japan, Compatible

There were no dissidents then in the USSR because they were all killed.

- Natan Sharansky

Because, Were, Then, USSR

Only weeks after Oslo began, when nearly all the world and most of Israel was drunk with the idea of peace, I argued that a Palestinian society not constrained by democratic norms would be a fear society that would pose a grave threat to Israel.

- Natan Sharansky

Idea, Weeks, Argued, Oslo

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.