Sayed Kashua Quotes

There is no 'European people' united by common mores.

The individualism of the Arab has been erased from this society.

In primary school, every day and especially on Fridays, I was supposed to say, 'I am Turkish, and I am righteous and hardworking,' But all those things did not actually turn us into Turks. This system is somehow creating fake personalities.

I don't know whether it is fortunate or unfortunate, but I have no such thing as national pride. I don't feel proud that I am Iranian. I happen to be who I am.

I don't feel particularly attached to Israel - 'nationalism,' as Noam Chomsky said, 'is not my cup of tea' - but I feel no particular need to demonize it.

The State of Israel can be proud of what we're doing.

There is no them in America.

A nation is a society united by a delusion about its ancestry and by a common hatred of its neighbors.

A portion of mankind may be said to constitute a Nationality if they are united among themselves by common sympathies which do not exist between them and any others—which make them co-operate with each other more willingly than with other people, desire to be under the same government, and desire that it should be government by themselves or a portion of themselves exclusively.

We are all Americans, sir.

Nationalism usually conquers in the name of a putative folk culture.

Nationality is belief in a common origin and end.

The motherland is the common mother, the unity within which isolated the individuals penetrate and become enmeshed. It is the holy name that expresses the voluntary fusion of all interests into one interest, of all lives into one lasting and perpetual life.

Nationhood is not founded on religion but blood ties, a common culture and homeland.

Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.

War is the health of the state. It automatically sets in motion throughout society those irresistible forces for uniformity, for passionate cooperation with the government in coercing into obedience the minority groups and individuals which lack the larger herd sense.

I love Israel, but I don't like it very much.

Americans are a quarter of a billion people who have almost nothing in common except for the fact they've been told they have lots in common.

Israel is truly, for me, before everything.

I love Israel, am proud of it.

I don't like identity. We accept identities in Israel. We make them holy. But what does identity really mean?

I'm a Zionist who believes that every person has to have a country of their own.

A country cannot develop without a strong identity.

I don't belong to any side. What's more, I think flags are nothing but painted rags that represent rancid emotions. Just seeing someone wrapped up in one of them, spewing out hymns, badges and speeches, gives me the runs. I've always thought that anyone who needs to join a herd so badly must be a bit of a sheep himself

I love that country [Israel].