Natan Sharansky quotes

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)
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. View quote
Natan Sharansky
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. View quote
Natan Sharansky
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. View quote
Natan Sharansky
A simple way to determine whether the right to dissent in a particular society is being upheld is to apply the town square test: Can a person walk into the middle of the town square and express his or her views without fear of arrest, imprisonment, or physical harm? If he can, then that person is living in a free society. If not, it's a fear society. View quote
Natan Sharansky
Freedom's skeptics must understand that the democracy that hates you is less dangerous than the dictator who loves you. Indeed, it is the absence of democracy that represents the real threat to peace. View quote
Natan Sharansky
The conviction that freedom is a universal desire is not the property of any political camp. ... Yet those who hold it remain a precious few, outnumbered many times over by the skeptics who don't. View quote
Natan Sharansky
In contrast, fear societies are societies in which dissent is banned. View quote
Natan Sharansky
Now we can see why nondemocratic regimes imperil the security of the world. They stay in power by controlling their populations. This control invariably requires an increasing amount of repression. To justify this repression and maintain internal stability, external enemies must be manufactured. View quote
Natan Sharansky
The State of Israel is a national home for the entire Jewish people and it is clear to me that there is no dispute between any party or Zionist movement, while the nation-state law was originally intended to reinforce this principle, the most recent amendments to it are of great concern because they drive a wedge between Jews in Israel and in the Diaspora. View quote
Natan Sharansky
A lack of moral clarity is also the tragedy that has befallen efforts to advance peace and security in the world. Promoting peace and security is fundamentally connected to promoting freedom and democracy. (Natan Sharansky)
The free world should not wait for dictatorial regimes to consent to reform. View quote
Natan Sharansky
Will dissent be permitted? The answer to that question will determine whether the society is a free society or a fear society. View quote
Natan Sharansky
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. View quote
Natan Sharansky
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. View quote
Natan Sharansky
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. View quote
Natan Sharansky
Japan is not a Western democracy. The Japanese have kept their traditions, culture and heritage, but they have joined the community of free nations. View quote
Natan Sharansky
I was inspired to write this book by those who are sceptical of the power of freedom to change the world. View quote
Natan Sharansky
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. View quote
Natan Sharansky
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. View quote
Natan Sharansky
Non-democratic regimes always need to mobilize their people against external enemies in order to maintain internal stability. (Natan Sharansky)
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. View quote
Natan Sharansky
Free societies are societies in which the right of dissent is protected. View quote
Natan Sharansky
Of course, there can be serious injustices within free societies. View quote
Natan Sharansky
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. View quote
Natan Sharansky