Gamal Abdel Nasser was a revolutionary in his public life, but he was a conservative and simple man in his private life. In the modern history, no Arab leader succeeded in gathering the kind of support among Arab masses that Nasser did during the last 15 years of his life. Even in the face of adversity after losing two wars, which had disastrous results for Egypt, the popularity of this charismatic army leader did not go down. He was the first true Egyptian to rule the country in several centuries and that gave hope and a feeling of dignity to his people. He was a charismatic leader and orator and caught the attention of his countrymen with his nationalistic and logical views. We have compiled Nasser's quotes from his speeches, interviews and writings. Here is a look at some of his most notable quotes.
There is no longer a way out of our present situation except by forging a road toward our objective, violently and by force, over a sea of blood and under a horizon blazing with fire.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Our basic objective will be the destruction of Israel. The Arab people want to fight.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Everyone have power of brain but people don't know correctly time of usage. winner just know when, where & how to usage it.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
We will not accept any...coexistence with Israel...Today the issue is not the establishment of peace between the Arab states and Israel....The war with Israel is in effect since 1948.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
People do not want words - they want the sound of battle - the battle of destiny.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
I don't act; I react.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
They defended the grains of sand in the desert to the last drop of their blood.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
If the refugees return to Israel, Israel will cease to exist.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Fate does not play jokes.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
We shall not enter Palestine with its soil covered in sand, we shall enter it with its soil saturated in blood
Gamal Abdel Nasser
We are awaiting aggression by Israel and any supporters of Israel. We will make it a decisive battle and get rid of Israel once and for all... This is the dream of every Arab.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
We must fight our way to victory on a sea of blood and a horizon of fire.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
We have to go along a road covered with blood. We have no other alternative. For us it is a matter of life or death, a matter of living or existing. We have to be ready to face the challenges that await us.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
We're a sentimental people. We like a few kind words better than millions of dollars given in a humiliating way.
He who can not support himself, can not take his own decision.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
The genius of you Americans is that you never make clear-cut stupid moves, only complicated stupid moves which make the rest of us wonder at the possibility that we might be missing something.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
What was taken by force, can only be restored by force.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Our path to Palestine will not be covered with a red carpet or with yellow sand. Our path to Palestine will be covered with blood... In order that we may liberate Palestine, the Arab nation must unite, the Arab armies must unite, and a unified plan of action must be established
Gamal Abdel Nasser
The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of Israel ... to face the challenge, while standing behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab nation. This act will astound the world. Today they will know that the Arabs are arranged for battle, the critical hour has arrived. We have reached the stage of serious action and not of more declarations.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Within the Arab circle there is a role wandering aimlessly in search of a hero. For some reason it seems to me that this role is beckoning to us-to move, to take up its lines, put on its costumes and give it life. Indeed, we are the only ones who can play it. The role is to spark the tremendous latent strengths in the region surrounding us to create a great power, which will then rise up to a level of dignity and undertake a positive part in building the future of mankind.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
The age of isolation is gone. And gone are the days in which barbed wire served as demarcation lines, separating and isolating countries from one another. No country can escape looking beyond its boundaries to find the source of the currents which influence how it can live with others.
Gamal Abdel Nasser
I believe that we now have a duty to remove the aggressor from our land and to regain the Arab territory occupied by the Israelis. We can then engage in a clandestine struggle to liberate the land of Palestine, to liberate Haifa and Jaffa.
