Theodor Herzl Quotes

Zionism

The Jewish State Der Judenstaat

When modern political Zionism emerged around the turn of the twentieth century, most Orthodox Jews opposed it.

The whole Zionist project was based on a whole spectrum of different and even conflicting dreams and visions.

Were I to sum up the Basle Congress in a word- which I shall guard against pronouncing publicly- it would be this: 'At Basle, I founded the Jewish State. If I said this out loud today, I would be answered by universal laughter. If not in 5 years, certainly in 50, everyone will know it.'

'I don't say a Zionist must be insane,' said President Weizmann, 'but it helps if he is.'

In Basle I founded the Jewish State. If I said it today, it would be greeted with laughter; but in five years, perhaps, certainly in fifty years, everyone will see it. A State is founded essentially on the will of the people for a State.

Zionism and pessimism are not compatible.

I am a Zionist. You don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.