Men, I am not ordering you to attack. I am ordering you to die. In the time that it takes us to die, other forces and commanders can come and take our place.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the bravery required in the face of inevitable sacrifice for a greater cause.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's quote underscores the profound courage and commitment of soldiers when confronted with death. It highlights the notion that their sacrifice serves a higher purpose, allowing others to continue the fight for freedom and justice. The order to die is not a call for senseless loss, but a strategic decision to create opportunities for future victories, reflecting deep leadership and dedication to a cause greater than oneself.
In practice
In a military memorial speech highlighting the sacrifices made for freedom.
Would not obeying to my mother's warnings, who is at least 25 years older than me, be returning to the past? And rebelling against her would mean ruining my mother's, who, I am convinced that, is a virtuous high woman, heart and evaluations. I do not find this right, either.
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.
God is my witness that up to now, my only aspiration in life is to be a useful element within the army! I have for long been convinced that, to safeguard the country and give happiness to the people, it is necessary first of all to prove once more to the world that our army is still the old Turkish army.
The necessary thing for anyone to be happy and contented as long as he lives is working for the ones who will come after him rather than working for himself... One can reach the true delight and happiness in the life only by working for the existence, honor, and happiness of the future generations.
On the meeting point of two worlds, the ornament of Turkish homeland, the treasure of Turkish history, the city cherished by the Turkish nation, İstanbul, has its place in the hearts of all citizens.
A nation which makes the final sacrifice for life and freedom does not get beaten.
We live in the kind of world where courage is the most essential of virtues; without courage, the other virtues are useless.
I suffered evils, but without allowing them to rob me of the freedom to expand.
We've always had this experience that things take long, but I'm 100% convinced that our principles will in the end prevail. No one knew how the Cold War would end at the time, but it did end. This is within our living experience... I'm surprised at how fainthearted we sometimes are and how quickly we lose courage.
If I hadn't been a drunkard, I probably would have committed suicide long ago.
Sometimes, you get tired of fighting. I think you just sort of come to this realization that yes, that you will get tired, but that doesn't mean that you can give up the fight.
I was taught that if you see a person drowning, you must jump into the water to save them, whether you can swim or not.
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