Golda Meir quotes - page 2

From Russia I didn't bring out a single happy memory, only sad, tragic ones. The nightmare of pogroms, the brutality of Cossacks charging young Socialists, fear, shrieks of terror. (Golda Meir)
A story once went the rounds of Israel to the effect that Ben-Gurion described me as 'the only man' in his cabinet. What amused me about is that he (or whoever invented the story) thought that this was the greatest compliment that could be paid to a woman. I very much doubt that any man would have been flattered if I had said about him that he was the only woman in the government!
Golda Meir
America is a great country. It has many shortcomings, many social inequalities, and it's tragic that the problem of the blacks wasn't solved fifty or even a hundred years ago, but it's still a great country, a country full of opportunities, of freedom! Does it seem nothing to you to be able to say what you like, even against the government, the Establishment?
Golda Meir
Not being beautiful was the true blessing. Not being beautiful forced me to develop my inner resources. The pretty girl has a handicap to overcome.
Golda Meir
This country exists as the fulfillment of a promise made by God Himself. It would be ridiculous to ask it to account for its legitimacy.
Golda Meir
It is not only a matter, I believe, of religious observance and practice. To me, being Jewish means and has always meant being proud to be part of a people that has maintained its distinct identity for more than 2,000 years, with all the pain and torment that has been inflicted upon it.
Golda Meir
Any one who speaks in favor of bringing the Arab refugees back must also say how he expects to take the responsibility for it, if he is interested in the state of Israel. It is better that things are stated clearly and plainly: We shall not let this happen.
Golda Meir
I'm a slave to this leaf in a diary that lists what I must do, what I must say, every half hour.
Golda Meir
How can I explain the difference to me between America and Russia?... the America I've known is a place where men on horseback escort union marchers, the Russia I've known is a place where men on horseback slaughter young Socialists and Jews.
Golda Meir
I have given instructions that I be informed every time one of our soldiers is killed, even if it is in the middle of the night. When President Nasser leaves instructions that he is to be awakened in the middle of the night if an Egyptian soldier is killed, there will be peace.
Golda Meir
Moses dragged us for 40 years through the desert to bring us to the one place in the Middle East where there was no oil. (Golda Meir)
What do you gain, Soviet Union, from this miserable policy Where is your decency Would it be a disgrace for you to give up this battle.
Golda Meir
My delegation cannot refrain from speaking on this question-we who have such an intimate knowledge of boxcars and of deportations to unknown destinations that we cannot be silent.
Golda Meir
To be successful, a woman has to be much better at her job than a man.
Golda Meir
We Jews have a secret weapon in our struggle with the Arabs; we have no place to go.
Golda Meir
Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and diffidence falls short.
Golda Meir
I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was for it regardless of the possible outcome.
Golda Meir
Old age is like a plane flying through a storm. Once you're aboard, there's nothing you can do.
Golda Meir
There can be no doubt that the average man blames much more than he praises. His instinct is to blame. If he is satisfied he says nothing; if he is not, he most illogically kicks up a row.
Golda Meir
I never did anything alone. Whatever was accomplished in this country was accomplished collectively.
Golda Meir
The Egyptians could run to Egypt, the Syrians into Syria. The only place we could run was into the sea, and before we did that we might as well fight. (Golda Meir)
The dog that trots about finds a bone.
Golda Meir
Glorious bouquets and storms of applause are the trimmings which every artist naturally enjoys.
Golda Meir
Men who have reached and passed forty-five, have a look as if waiting for the secret of the other world, and as if they were perfectly sure of having found out the secret of this.
Golda Meir
As President Nixon says, presidents can do almost anything, and President Nixon has done many things that nobody would have thought of doing.
Golda Meir