One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.
Golda Meir

Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself.
Golda Meir

The dog that trots about finds a bone.
Golda Meir

The Egyptians could run to Egypt, the Syrians into Syria. The only place we could run was into the sea, and before we did that we might as well fight.
Golda Meir

The public history of modern art is the story of conventional people not knowing what they are dealing with.
Golda Meir

The Soviet government is the most realistic regime in the world - no ideals.
Golda Meir

There can be no doubt that the average man blames much more than he praises. His instinct is to blame. If he is satisfied he says nothing; if he is not, he most illogically kicks up a row.
Golda Meir

There's no difference between one's killing and making decisions that will send others to kill. It's exactly the same thing, or even worse.
Golda Meir

Those who don't know how to weep with their whole heart, don't know how to laugh either.
Golda Meir

To be or not to be is not a question of compromise. Either you be or you don't be.
Golda Meir

To be successful, a woman has to be much better at her job than a man.
Golda Meir

Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.
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

We don't thrive on military acts. We do them because we have to, and thank God we are efficient.
Golda Meir

We have always said that in our war with the Arabs we had a secret weapon - no alternative.
Golda Meir

We Jews have a secret weapon in our struggle with the Arabs; we have no place to go.
Golda Meir

Whether women are better than men I cannot say - but I can say they are certainly no worse.
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

You'll never find a better sparring partner than adversity.
Golda Meir