Quotes by Theodor Herzl

About Theodor Herzl:

Theodor Herzl was an Austro-Hungarian journalist, playwright, political activist, and writer. He was one of the fathers of modern political Zionism. Herzl formed the World Zionist Organization and promoted Jewish migration to Palestine in an effort to form a Jewish state (Israel).
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

It goes without saying that the Jewish people can have no other goal than Palestine and that, whatever the fate of the proposition may be, our attitude toward the land of our fathers is and shall remain unchangeable.

Theodor Herzl

What We want is to make it possible for our unfortunate people to live a life of industry for it is by steady work alone that we hope for our physical and moral rehabilitation. For this reason above all we have undertaken to rally our people around o...

Theodor Herzl

But we wish to give the Jews a Homeland. Not by dragging them ruthlessly out of their sustaining soil, but rather by removing them carefully, roots and all, to a better terrain.

Theodor Herzl

Economic distress, political pressure, and social obloquy already drive us from our homes and from our graves. The Jews are already constantly shifting from place to place.

Theodor Herzl

Four years ago in speaking of a Jewish nation one ran the risk of being regarded ridiculous. Today he makes himself ridiculous who denies the existence of a Jewish nation.

Theodor Herzl

I incline to an aristocratic republic. This would satisfy the ambitious spirit among our people. We shall learn from the historic mistakes of others in the same way as we learn from our own; for we are a modern nation and wish to be the most modern i...

Theodor Herzl

I prefer being penetrated by iron to seeing Palestine is loose.

Theodor Herzl

It is true that we aspire to our ancient land. But what we want in that ancient land is a new blossoming of the Jewish spirit.

Theodor Herzl

Let sovereignty be granted us over a portion of the earth's surface large enough to satisfy our rightful requirements as a nation. The rest we shall manage for ourselves.

Theodor Herzl

Nothing prevents us from being and remaining the exponents of a united humanity, when we have a country of our own. To fulfill this mission we do not have to remain literally planted among the nations who hate and despise us.

Theodor Herzl

Our first object is... the obtaining of sovereignty, assured by international law, over a portion of the globe sufficiently large to satisfy our just requirements.

Theodor Herzl

Our opponents maintain that we are confronted with insurmountable political obstacles, but that may be said of the smallest obstacle if one has no desire to surmount it.

Theodor Herzl

Those of us who are today prepared to hazard our lives for the cause would regret having raised a finger, if we were able to organize only a new social system and not a more righteous one.

Theodor Herzl

We are organizing Jewry for its coming destiny.

Theodor Herzl

Zionism demands a publicly recognized and legally secured homeland in Palestine for the Jewish people. This platform is unchangeable.

Theodor Herzl

The character of a people may be ruined by charity.

Theodor Herzl

If you will it, it is no dream.

Theodor Herzl

Truly we have had enough experience with sufferance and protection which could be revoked at will. Consequently, the only reasonable Course of action is to work for publicly legalized guarantees.

Theodor Herzl

We believe that salvation is to be found in wholesome work in a beloved land. Work will provide our people with the bread of tomorrow, and moreover, with the honor of the tomorrow, the freedom of the tomorrow.

Theodor Herzl

Philanthropic colonization is a failure. National colonization will succeed.

Theodor Herzl

Author Bio

  • NameTheodor Herzl
  • DescriptionAustro-Hungarian journalist and writer
  • AliasesBenjamin Ze’ev Herzl
  • BornMay 2, 1860
  • DiedJuly 3, 1904
  • CountryHungary
  • ProfessionJournalist; Writer