Selected Quotations from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk:
Selected Quotations from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk:
"The People of Turkey which formed the Republic of Turkey are called The Turkish Nation." (1930)
" For the Turk, freedom is his life." (1930)
" Freedom consists of man's ability to do what he thinks and desires, without any influence or intervention by others. This is the widest definition of the concept. Mankind has ever attained liberty to this extent and never will. Because as is known, men are creations of Nature and the Nature itself is not absolutely free either; it is subject to universal laws." (1930)
" Unlimited liberties are inconceivable. Even the right to live, the greatest of rights, is not absolute." (1930)
" There will be no bolshevism in Turkey. Because the foremost objective of the Turkish Government is to assure the liberty and the happiness of its people." (1935)
" I have always sided with one thing: I am for the Republic and for intellectual and social reforms." (1925)
"The French Revolution which spread the idea of liberty to the entire World still constitutes the principal source thereof. However, since then humanity has progressed much. The Turkish democracy has, while following in the footsteps of the French Revolution, nevertheless developed in line with its own qualities and characteristics. Because each nation realizes its own reforms in due consideration of conditions resulting from the pressures and the needs of its own social environment, and of the time when such revolution reforms do take place." (1928)
" Now Turkey is far from being the scene of religious or shariah schemes. If there are any who desire such schemes they would be well advised to seek other stages for themselves." (1924)
" The Caliphate is nothing but a myth of the past having no place in modern times." (1924)
" The Turkish State is secular. Every individual reaching maturity is free in choosing his or her religion." (1930)
" The modern Turkish society, with its women and men being equal in every right, is a creation of recent years." (1937)
" Civilization is none other than culture itself." (1930)
" Only the Teachers and educators are the saviors of nations. A nation wanting of these cannot yet be called a nation. It may be called an ordinary mass but not a nation." (1925)
" Let us admit it: A nation which cares not for painting, a nation which builds no statues, a nation which does not meet the exigencies of science and technology deserves no place on the path towards development." (1923)
"We do not accept a religion which ignores fine arts." (1926)
" I forgive them, because I have a heart. They do not forgive me because they have none." (1937)
" Full pleasure and happiness in life can be found only in working for the honor and happiness of future generations." (1937)
Source: Yilmaz OZ. 1982. Quotations from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (translation). Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Turkey, on the occasion of Ataturk's Centenary.
Ataturk