Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Statesman, Founder of Republic

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was the founder of modern Turkey, known for his revolutionary reforms that established a secular and democratic state.

Born
May 19, 1881
Died
November 10, 1938
Quotes
58
Rank
#228

About Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk — Life and Legacy

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, is renowned for his radical reforms that transformed a war-torn nation into a modern state. His commitment to secularism and nationalism set the foundation for contemporary Turkey, as he sought to distance the new republic from its Ottoman past. Ataturk's famous assertion, 'Peace at Home, Peace in the World,' reflects his vision of a stable and harmonious society, which he believed was essential for national progress. Ataturk's core philosophy revolved around modernization and education, as he famously stated, 'The greatest weapon of the Turkish nation is its knowledge.' This highlights his belief that intellectual advancement was crucial for national strength and independence. His reforms included the adoption of a new legal system, the promotion of women's rights, and the establishment of a secular educational framework, all aimed at fostering a progressive society. The impact of Ataturk's ideas continues to resonate today, as they laid the groundwork for a secular, democratic Turkey. His emphasis on freedom and reform not only reshaped Turkish identity but also inspired movements for modernization in other nations, showcasing the enduring relevance of his vision.

Quote collection

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk quotes (page 1 of 3)

58 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"I have no religion, and at times I wish all religions at the bottom of the sea. He is a weak ruler who needs religion to uphold his government; it is as if he would catch his people in a trap. My people are going to learn the principles of democracy, the dictates of truth and the teachings of science. Superstition must go. Let them worship as they will; every man can follow his own conscience, provided it does not interfere with sane reason or bid him against the liberty of his fellow-men."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"Religion is an important institution. A nation without religion cannot survive. Yet it is also very important to note that religion is a link between Allah and the individual believer. The brokerage of the pious cannot be permitted. Those who use religion for their own benefit are detestable. We are against such a situation and will not allow it. Those who use religion in such a manner have fooled our people; it is against just such people that we have fought and will continue to fight. Know that whatever conforms to reason, logic, and the advantages and needs of our people conforms equally to Islam. If our religion did not conform to reason and logic, it would not be the perfect religion, the final religion."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"Everything we see in the world is the creative work of women."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"Science is the most reliable guide for civilization, for life, for success in the world. Searching a guide other than the science is meaning carelessness, ignorance and heresy."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"To see me does not necessarily mean to see my face. To understand my thoughts is to have seen me."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"Where there is no freedom, there is death and destruction."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"Peace at home is peace in the country. Peace in the country is peace in the world."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"He is a weak ruler who needs religion to uphold his government; it is as if he would catch his people in a trap."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"You, the sons and daughters, the future of Turkiye, even under such circumstances and conditions, your duty is to save the Turkish independence and the Republic, you will find the power you need in the noble blood in your veins."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"Mankind is a single body and each nation a part of that body. We must never say "What does it matter to me if some part of the world is ailing?" If there is such an illness, we must concern ourselves with it as though we were having that illness."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"This nation has never lived without independence. We cannot and shall not live without it. Either independence or death."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"Victory is for those who can say "Victory is mine". Success is for those who can begin saying "I will succeed" and say "I have succeeded" in the end."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"The supreme guide in life is knowledge."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"Heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives! You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours. You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."

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"[Turkish women] had lived free of the veil for 5,000 years, and had been covered only in the last 600 years."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"My people are going to learn the principles of democracy, the dictates of truth and the teachings of science. Superstition must go."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"A man who doesn't think differently from his time and environment can't grow beyond his time and environment."

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Statesman, Founder of Republic
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"Human kind is made up of two sexes, women and men. Is it possible that a mass is improved by the improvement of only one part and the other part is ignored? Is it possible that if half of a mass is tied to earth with chains and the other half can soar into skies?"

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