Quotes about Ataturk

"Ataturk’s death is not only a loss for the country, but for Europe is the greatest loss, he who saved Turkey in the war and who revived a new the Turkish nation after the war. The sincere tears shed after him by all classes of people is nothing other than an appropriate manifestation to this great hero and modern Turkey’s Ata.”
Winston CHURCHILL
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1938)
"The name of Atatürk reminds mankind of the historical accomplishments of one of the greatest men of this century: His leadership gave inspiration to the Turkish nation, farsightedness in the understanding of the modern world, and courage and power as a military leader. It is without a doubt that another example cannot be shown indicating greater successes than the birth of the Turkish Republic, and ever since then Atatürk's and Turkey's broad and deep reforms undertaken, as well as the confidence of a nation in itself".
John F. KENNEDY
President of the United States of America
"He was a soldier-statesman, one of the greatest leaders of our era. He ensured that Turkey got its rightful place among the most advanced nations of the world. He has given to Turks the sense of self-confidence and endurance to the Turks, that forms the foundation stone of a nation's greatness. I take great pride in being one of Atatürk's loyal friends".
General Douglas MACARTHUR
Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Forces, U.S.A.
"Probably no other 20th century leader did more for his country than Ataturk. He brought Turkey independence, changed its alphabet and culture, and created a secular democracy. And probably no 20th century general had any better battlefield instincts, skill or discipline.”
Wesley CLARK
General
“Above all, he was a builder, the greatest nation-builder of modern times.”
Andrew MANGO
British author and biographer
"Your great country that is advancing on the course that he demonstrated has obtained very significant successes. This ceremony that is being held to commemorate the memory of Atatürk, the architect of progress and Turkish unity, is a very appropriate respect to a person who became a source of inspiration to free peoples throughout the world".
Dwight D. EISENHOWER
President of the United States of America
"During a conversation with the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Soviet Union, Litvinov, I asked him who was, according to him, the most valuable and remarkable statesman of Europe. He replied that, the most valuable and interesting leader in the world was the President of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk".
Franklin D. ROOSEVELT
U.S. President, 1928
"We meet genius people very rarely in centuries. It is so unlucky that, in this century that great genius person belongs to the Turkish Nation. The centuries rarely produce a genius. Look at this bad luck of ours, that great genius of our era was granted to the Turkish nation".
D. Lloyd GEORGE
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
"Fifty years before this we heard the name of Mustafa Kemal as a distinguished Turkish Commander. Later, with the establishment of peace, he got the opportunity to put forth his characteristics as a statesman and as one of the great national leaders, he gained one of the most eminent ranks in history. We remember that courageous and heroic soldier with respect and that statesman, the true father of modern Turkey with praise and gratitude".
Sir Alexander DOUGLAS-HOME
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
"The ones who want to restore peace and health in this painful world, and who want mankind to develop not only materially but also morally, must take as an example and ponder upon Atatürk’s galvanization and course".
Professor Herbert MELZIG
Historian
"Today, Turkish history even more than ever is inseparable from Western and European history. Atatürk's efforts in this direction were not left without results. The friendship between our countries that has surpassed hundreds of years, has formed the foundation for this development".
Charles de GAULLE
President of France
"The work that Ataturk has achieved, with intelligent and peaceful methods, will leave traces in the history of mankind".
Albert LEBRUN
French President
"He was not only a great man for Turkey, but he was also a great leader for the Eastern People".
Emanullah HAN
Afghan King
"In the life of a nation it is very seldom that changes to such a radical degree were carried out in such a short period of time... Without a doubt, those who have done these extraordinary activities have earned the attributes of a great man in the complete sense of the word. And because of this, Turkey can be proud of itself".
Eleutherios VENIZELOS
Prime Minister of Greece
"Kemal Atatürk or Kemal Pasha by which name we knew him in those times, was my hero during my youth. I was very moved when I read about his great reforms. I met with great praise the general efforts made by Atatürk on the course of modernizing Turkey. His dynamism, undauntedness and unawareness of fatigue created a great effect on people. He was one of the builders of the modern age in the orient. I continue to be among his greatest admirers".
Jawaharlal NEHRU
Prime Minister of India
"Without doubt, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is one of the greatest statesmen that during the 20. Century and before the war has ever arisin; he has been a brave and great reformist that no other people have ever known".
Ben GURION
Israel Prime Minister 1963
"Kemal Atatürk is not only one of the greatest leaders of this century. We in Pakistan see him as one of the greatest men of all times who has lived and died. He is not only the beloved leader of your country. All the Moslems in the world have turned their eyes to him with feelings of love and admiration".
Muhammed AYUB KHAN
President of Pakistan
"Great men are at the head of generations. At the head of the Turkish People, the great and genius Atatürk was an undaunted great and patriotic man in the political and battlefield arenas".
KERAMA
Lebanese Prime Minister
"We feel a great admiration for Atatürk in his efforts towards ensuring the modernization of Turkish society by separating religion and politics from each other and by carrying out the Turkish Language Reforms".
Hayato IKEDA
Prime Minister of Japan
"In our times, it is Atatürk who brought Turkey to its current status as a modern republic with his farsighted and courageous political, social and economic reforms. At the same time, it was also he that prepared the foundation of the modern economy that will ensure today Turkey's attaining the strength to be able to enter the European Economic Community".
Joseph LUNS
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands
"The ruling of an experienced president who’s fame has spread all over the world, has strengthened with continuing success the independence of the great Turkish people, who have attracted the love and respect of everyone, and have created a new national structure".
KALININ
Soviet Prime Minister
"We are indebted to him for the birth of the first republic in the Near and Middle East. This Republic showed the way for the wars of national freedom for many nations. Under Atatürk's administration, Turkey's international authority advanced and his country started to play an important role in world politics".
Nikita S. KHRUSHCHEV
President of the Soviet Union