"The means determine the goal. If lies and violence are the means, the results cannot be good.... We have been in Palestine for twelve years [i.e. since the 1917 without having even once made a serious attempt at seeking through negotiations the consent of the indigenous people.... I believe that it will be possible for us to hold Palestine and continue to grow for a long time. This will be done first with British aid and then later with the help of our own bayonets -- shamefully called Haganah [defense] -- clearly because we have no faith in our own policy. But by that time we will not be able to do without the bayonets. The means will have determined the goal. Jewish Palestine will no longer have anything of that Zion for which I once put myself on the line."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Philosophers from the United StatesHistorians from the United StatesJews from the United StatesPeople from PragueHarvard University staff
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Hans Kohn (1929), "Kohn’s letter of farewell to Zionism," as quoted in: Anthony G. Bing. Israeli Pacifist, The Life of Joseph Abileah, 1990.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hans_Kohn
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Hans Kohn
(September 15, 1891 – March 16, 1971) was a Jewish American philosopher and historian.
2 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Hans Kohn →
Related Quotes
"Nationalism is a state of mind permeating the large majority of the people and claiming to permeate all its members; …"
"Americans have always been especially prone to regard all things as resulting from the free choice of a free will. Pr…"
"Democracy is clearly most appropriate for countries which enjoy an economic surplus and least appropriate for countri…"
"Here, for the last time together, appeared a triumvirate of old men, relics of a golden age, who still towered like g…"
"is credited with introducing into India the traditionally used by the s as elegant camping groounds. ... Not merely s…"
"In the first century , Roman warriors invaded Persia for power and plunder and were captivated by the s. Following hi…"
"The small and graceful with its solitary pink blossoms was … acquired from with the , often favored for its delicate …"
"The Taj Mahal is an unforgettable visual experience. With every change of light there appear subtle variations in the…"
"Welcome to the shock event, designed precisely to jar the and civil society, causing a disorientation and disruption …"
"I happened to see a video of... presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally. I saw him rouse the crowd to perform …"