Quotes by Shimon Peres

About Shimon Peres:

Shimon Peres is a Polish-born Israeli statesman. He was the ninth President of Israel from 2007 to 2014. Peres served twice as the Prime Minister of Israel and twice as Interim Prime Minister, and he was a member of 12 cabinets in a political career spanning over 66 years. Peres was elected to the Knesset in November 1959 and, except for a three-month-long hiatus in early 2006, served continuously until 2007, when he became President.
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And in England there has always been something deeply pro-Arab, of course, not among all Englishmen, and anti-Israeli, in the establishment. They abstained in the 1947 UN partition resolution... They maintained an arms embargo against us in the 1950s...

Shimon Peres

For me, dreaming is simply being pragmatic.

Shimon Peres

The uprising in Egypt was initiated by the young generation. The uprising achieved two things. One is it made the lives of dictators impossible. Today, if you are looking for a safe job, don't become a dictator.

Shimon Peres

One of the most important branches of the Egyptian economy is tourism. No bikinis, no tourism. So they have to decide what to do.

Shimon Peres

He taught me literature, and he actually taught me how to read. He was my personal mentor.

Shimon Peres

I have a brother younger than me. My mother was a librarian, so from her, I got the taste to read.

Shimon Peres

They thought that I was a man with reasonable judgment, so I was never under pressure from my parents; I could do whatever I wanted. I never had a negative word from them, nothing whatsoever.

Shimon Peres

Israel has its attractions. It's the most dramatic country in the world. Everybody's engaged. Everybody argues. When I leave Israel, I get a little bit bored, you know?

Shimon Peres

There is in England a saying that an anti-Semite is someone who hates the Jews more than is necessary.

Shimon Peres

Later on, there were some problems with our navy, so he made me the head of the navy - all things that I hardly knew anything about. I was basically an ignorant young man.

Shimon Peres

The most important thing in life is to dare. The most complicated thing in life is to be afraid. The smartest thing in the world is to try to be a moral person.

Shimon Peres

We should use our imagination more than our memory.

Shimon Peres

There are two things that cannot be achieved in life unless you close your eyes a little bit. And that's love and peace. If you want perfection you won't obtain either of them.

Shimon Peres

Bringing an end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians may help the young Arab generation to realise their aspirations. Israel is more than willing to offer our experience in building a modern economy in spite of limited resources to the...

Shimon Peres

The Middle East is ailing. The malady stems from pervasive violence, shortages of food, water and educational opportunities, discrimination against women and - the most virulent cause of all - the absence of freedom.

Shimon Peres

Peace with the Palestinians will open ports of peace all around the Mediterranean. The duty of leaders is to pursue freedom ceaselessly, even in the face of hostility, in the face of doubt and disappointment. Just imagine what could be.

Shimon Peres

My heart goes out to the brave citizens of Syria, who each day risk and even sacrifice their lives to achieve freedom from a murderous regime. We in Israel welcome the historic struggle to forge democratic, peace-loving governments in our region.

Shimon Peres

Israel was born under the British mandate. We learned from the British what democracy means, and how it behaves in a time of danger, war and terror. We thank Britain for introducing freedom and respect of human rights both in normal and demanding cir...

Shimon Peres

Now, I learned soon enough, that among the three, two don't trust the third one - the third one is the government. Both industry and unions feel the government is a talking organization and a spending organization.

Shimon Peres

The Jews' greatest contribution to history is dissatisfaction! We're a nation born to be discontented. Whatever exists we believe can be changed for the better.

Shimon Peres

You know who is against democracy in the Middle East? The husbands. They got used to their way of life. Now, the traditional way of life must change. Everybody must change. If you don't give equal rights to women, you can't progress.

Shimon Peres

Author Bio

  • NameShimon Peres
  • DescriptionIsraeli politician, 8th prime minister and 9th president of Israel
  • AliasesSzymon Perski
  • BornAugust 2, 1923
  • CountryIsrael
  • ProfessionPolitician; Diplomat
  • AwardsNobel Peace Prize; Order Of The British Empire; Legion Of Honour; Order Of Saint Michael And Saint George; Presidential Medal Of Freedom; Knight Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire; Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize; Four Freedoms Award - Freedom From Fear; Philadelphia Liberty Medal; Steiger Award