Golda Meir is one of the the most iconic figures in Israeli history known for her strategic leadership and dedication to her country. From guiding Israel through peace efforts and difficult times of war, Meir played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s future. Explore the most famous Golda Meir quotes about life, love, community, and forgiveness that reflect her profound commitment to the country, her belief in justice, and her resilient spirit in adversity.
Born in Kyiv and raised in Milwaukee, Golda Meir, the fourth Prime Minister of Israel, was a trailblazing leader and feminist who broke barriers in an era dominated by men, inspiring countless women across generations.
As Israel’s first and only female Prime Minister, Meir is best known for her steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to the Zionist cause.
Meir held several key political positions throughout her career, including Minister of Labor and Minister of Foreign Affairs. She was also a signatory of the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.
As a Prime Minister, she handled significant events, including the Yom Kippur War and the Munich Olympics massacre, showcasing her resilience and strategic thinking.
Golda Meir’s ability to lead the nation through war, maintain dialogues with global leaders like Henry Kissinger, and ensuring Israeli security and the protection of Jewish lives earned her the nickname “the Iron Lady of Israeli politics.”
She passed away on December 8, 1978, in Jerusalem. Her legacy remains as her words continue to inspire and empower women worldwide.
Below we have curated the best Golda Meir quotes that will inspire and encourage you to break barriers and make a difference.
Top 10 Golda Meir Quotes
- “Don’t be humble… you’re not that great.” — Golda Meir
Golda Meir Quotes - “I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.” — Golda Meir
Quotes From Golda Meir - “You’ll never find a better sparring partner than adversity.” — Golda Meir
Quotes By Golda Meir - “Authority poisons everybody who takes authority on himself.” — Golda Meir
Golda Meir Quotations - “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.” — Golda Meir
Golda Meir Sayings - “Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life.” — Golda Meir
Quotes Of Golda Meir - “One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.” — Golda Meir
Golda Meir Famous Quotes - “A leader who doesn’t hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader.” — Golda Meir
Golda Meir Quote - “Those who don’t know how to weep with their whole heart, don’t know how to laugh either.” — Golda Meir
Best Golda Meir Quotes - “Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” — Golda Meir
Strong Golda Meir Quotes
Best Quotes From Golda Meir
- “Being seventy is not a sin.” — Golda Meir
- “The dog that trots about finds a bone.” — Golda Meir
- “Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself.” — Golda Meir
- “To be successful, a woman has to be much better at her job than a man.” — Golda Meir
- “Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and diffidence falls short.” — Golda Meir
- “To be or not to be is not a question of compromise. Either you be or you don’t be.” — Golda Meir
- “The only way to eliminate war is to love our children more than we hate our enemies.” — Golda Meir
- “Whether women are better than men I cannot say – but I can say they are certainly no worse.” — Golda Meir
- “Old age is like a plane flying through a storm. Once you’re aboard, there’s nothing you can do.” — Golda Meir
- “We say peace and the echo comes back from the other side, war. We don’t want wars even when we win.” — Golda Meir
- “It isn’t enough to believe in something; you have to have the stamina to meet obstacles and overcome them, to struggle.” — Golda Meir
- “If the Arabs put down their guns there would be no more fighting. If the Israelis put down theirs there would be no more Israel.” — Golda Meir
- “If we have to have a choice between being dead and pitied, and being alive with a bad image, we’d rather be alive and have the bad image.” — Golda Meir
Famous Quotes By Golda Meir
- “Even paranoids have real enemies.” — Golda Meir
- “We Jews have a secret weapon in our struggle with the Arabs; we have no place to go.” — Golda Meir
- “The world hates a Jew who hits back. The world loves us only when we are to be pitied.” — Golda Meir
- “We don’t thrive on military acts. We do them because we have to, and thank God we are efficient.” — Golda Meir
- “We can forgive you for killing our children, but we can never forgive you for making us kill your children.” — Golda Meir
- “If only political leaders would allow themselves to feel, as well as to think, the world might be a happier place.” — Golda Meir
- “We do not rejoice in victories. We rejoice when a new kind of cotton is grown and when strawberries bloom in Israel.” — Golda Meir
- “This country exists as the fulfillment of a promise made by God Himself. It would be ridiculous to ask it to account for its legitimacy.” — Golda Meir
- “There is no such thing as a Palestinian people… It is not as if we came and threw them out and took their country. They didn’t exist.” — Golda Meir
- “Not being beautiful was the true blessing. Not being beautiful forced me to develop my inner resources. The pretty girl has a handicap to overcome.” — Golda Meir
- “Women’s liberation is just a lot of foolishness. It’s men who are discriminated against. They can’t bear children. And no one is likely to do anything about that.” — Golda Meir
- “Let me tell you something that we Israelis have against Moses. He took us 40 years through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil!” — Golda Meir
Conclusion
What are your favorite Golda Meir quotes and sayings (with images, pictures, and wallpapers) that have inspired you the most? If there is a quote that we’ve missed then let us know in the comments section what your thoughts are.
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