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It's better to be controversial for the right reasons, than to be popular for the wrong reasons.

Shimon Peres

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Shimon Peres
Age: 93 †
Born: 1923
Born: August 16
Died: 2016
Died: September 28
Poet
Politician
President Of Israel
Writer
Vishneva
Szymon Perski
Peres
Reason
Better
Right
Controversial
Popular
Reasons
Wrong

More quotes by Shimon Peres

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Nothing had excited me-the huge cars, the entourages, the bodyguards, the policeman jumping to attention, all meant nothing to me ... till I came to the old man's office. (On becoming prime minister)
Shimon Peres
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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
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We had a lot of support - don't give me the world, just the televisions. In America we enjoy support,China is neutral, India is for, in Europe they're divided.
Shimon Peres
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We have to be reasonable people.
Shimon Peres
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In many ways, the media today makes dictatorship impossible. But it also makes democracy intolerable.
Shimon Peres
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For many years the stakes were clear. There were the Arabs attacking us and us defending ourselves, so basically there were no real problems [between the United States and Israel]. Now there are many small cells, and each of them can destroy on their own. Some can arrive at New York and kill thousands of people.
Shimon Peres
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Terrorists and murderers are so dangerous. We shouldn't fall victim to believe that they are immune.
Shimon Peres
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In order to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear country you have to introduce a system of verification and inspection.
Shimon Peres
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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
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Why cross and ocean when you can cross a river? Why should we sail to Washington when we can meet right away 10 miles from here?
Shimon Peres
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Israel's doors are open to collaboration with Bulgaria.
Shimon Peres
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Look, we have existed for 4,000 years - 2,000 years in diaspora, in exile. Nobody in the Middle East speaks their original language but Israel. When we started 64 years ago, we were 650,000 people. So, you know, we are maybe swimming a little bit against the stream, but we continue to swim.
Shimon Peres
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Some experts advise what to do in accordance with the past, but the past flew away, and we have to reorient ourselves in the face of new dangers.
Shimon Peres
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The Middle East is replete with both new and old threats. One should not underestimate these threats, but not be alarmed by them either. Israel is stronger today than ever.
Shimon Peres
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In Israel, a land lacking in natural resources, we learned to appreciate our greatest national advantage: our minds. Through creativity and innovation, we transformed barren deserts into flourishing fields and pioneered new frontiers in science and technology.
Shimon Peres
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I don't know what is stronger or what is weaker.The whole language of strength and weaknesses is irrelevant,because when you use arms you do not use ballots, and public opinion is unimportant, and they shoot at their opponents.
Shimon Peres
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When you have two alternatives, the first thing you have to do is to look for the third that you didn't think about, that doesn't exist.
Shimon Peres
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I've worked with 10 presidents. It's a record. I worked with Republicans and Democrats. All of them when it came to Israel were, movingly, friendly. From Truman, who was the first to recognize Israel 11 minutes after the U.N. resolution, to Obama. When it comes to the major issues of security and strategy, we are together, completely.
Shimon Peres
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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
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Today, Israel is stronger than ever. Israel has defensive tools of its own - those developed in the past and those developed today and those that will be developed tomorrow.
Shimon Peres