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Quotes by Norman Finkelstein

Born: 8th December 1953
Norman Finkelstein is an American political scientist, activist, and author.
Welcome to our collection of quotes by Norman Finkelstein, the esteemed educator and political commentator. Explore this page to gain insights into Finkelstein's profound thoughts and perspectives on a wide range of subjects, such as social justice, international relations, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This compilation showcases Finkelstein's unique ability to articulate complex ideas with clarity and conviction. Immerse yourself in the wisdom of this influential scholar and critically examine the issues he addresses through his thought-provoking quotes. Whether you are a student, activist, or simply seeking intellectual stimulation, this compilation of Norman Finkelstein's quotes is a valuable resource for fostering a deeper understanding of contemporary social and political discourse.

If there were an Oscar for best theatrical performance by a country, Israel would win every year. It's a country based on theater. It's a lunatic state - completely insane. Read Summary

International law says people fighting for self-determination can use force in order to achieve their independence. Read Summary

People have to liberate themselves, because liberation is not a single act. It's a question of eternal vigilance. Otherwise, you'll just become enslaved by someone else. Read Summary

I don't want to pretend to be a prophet or a saint. I'm very conscious of my limitations. I know my flaws. But I don't like lying. Read Summary

Everybody wants peace. That's a truism. There is no point in accomplishing through war what you can accomplish through peace. Read Summary

Israel's pro-American orientation exists not just among Israeli elites but also among the whole population. Come what may in Israel, it's inconceivable that this fundamental orientation will change. Combined with its overwhelming military power, this makes Israel a unique and irreplaceable American asset in the Middle East. Read Summary

I was bashing Israel in the past because nobody else was exposing its true record. Many people are doing it now, so I switched hats from a critic of Israel to a diplomat who wants to resolve the conflict. I have not changed, but I think the spectrum has moved. Read Summary

People are motivated by the desires for privilege, for power, for profit. Those are not shocking revelations. Anyone who's had any experience in life knows these things. Read Summary

Israel has been a stage on which American Jews have played out their fantasies of toughness - often from Martha's Vineyard. Read Summary

I think that people like Bloomberg, they're complete thugs. No question about it. But on the other hand, it must be said that they are politically savvy. They don't get into those positions of power - in the case of Bloomberg, both economic and political power - by being anybody's fool. Read Summary

There is no way a non-Jew could say what I did in 'The Holocaust Industry' without being labelled a Holocaust denier. I am labelled a Holocaust denier, too. Read Summary

The Holocaust only emerged in American life after Israel's victory in the 1967 Six Day war against its Arab neighbours. Read Summary

No doubt one can, in light of further study and life experience, come to repudiate past convictions. Read Summary

I was probably unusually close to my parents, so I do what I can now to preserve the integrity of their memory. The Holocaust deserves to be remembered. Read Summary

There are contradictory tendencies in American society. There's a huge range of activities that one can engage in that mark it as a quite free society. It's also true to say that the powers that be have so much control over how people think that there are fewer and fewer people who make use of the rights and information available to them. Read Summary

The Zionists indeed learnt well from the Nazis. So well that it seems that their morally repugnant treatment of the Palestinians, and their attempts to destroy Palestinian society within Israel and the occupied territories, reveals them as basically Nazis with beards and black hats. Read Summary

Both my father and mother were survivors of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Nazi concentration camps. Apart from my parents, every family member on both sides was exterminated by the Nazis. Read Summary

My parents often wondered why I would grow so indignant at the falsification and exploitation of the Nazi genocide. The most obvious answer is that it has been used to justify criminal policies of the Israeli state and U.S. support for these policies. Read Summary

I don't claim to know Israel. I don't speak Hebrew; my contacts are pretty limited. But I didn't know Vietnam; I didn't know Nicaragua, El Salvador or Honduras. It doesn't mean you can't reach your conclusions. Read Summary

I had been a Maoist, and then when the Gang of Four was overthrown, I was completely distraught. I was bedridden for three weeks; it was a very painful experience for me. Not only because I had been wrong, but because I felt really embarrassed that I had been lecturing and pontificating with such self-confidence. Read Summary