# Atatürk's best-known quotes (with sources)

"Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation", "The Republic wants generations free in thought, conscience and knowledge" and the nation that loses a life vein without art: the most quoted sayings of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with their sources.

- 0 votes · 14 items
- May 12, 2025 · sarcasm
- https://even.best/en/l/5010/ataturk-s-best-known-quotes-with-sources

## Top 14

1. **Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Atatürk's Speeches and Statements (Söylev ve Demeçleri).
2. **The Republic wants from you generations free in thought, free in conscience and free in knowledge.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Quoted in Emin Arat, Kemalizm.
3. **In a country without freedom there is death and decay. Freedom is the mother of all progress and salvation.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Atatürk's Speeches and Statements (Söylev ve Demeçleri).
4. **A nation left without art has had one of its life veins severed.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — One of his most quoted sayings.
5. **There is no problem that reason and logic cannot solve.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Quoted in Utkan Kocatürk, Atatürk.
6. **Nothing else matters in my eyes; I am in love only with merit.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Quoted in TTK Belleten, 1939.
7. **When we say ignorant, we do not mean those who did not go to school. The knowledge we mean is knowing the truth.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Quoted in İsmet Giritli, Kalkınma ve Türkiye.
8. **Everything we see in the world is the work of women.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Quoted in Afet İnan, Tarih Boyunca Türk Kadınının Hak ve Görevleri.
9. **Do not be afraid to speak the truth.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Atatürk's Speeches and Statements (Söylev ve Demeçleri).
10. **There is no mastering the nation, only serving it. Whoever serves this nation becomes its master.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Atatürk's Speeches and Statements (Söylev ve Demeçleri).
11. **People who are never cheerful raise two suspicions: either they are ill, or they have a worry they do not want others to know.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — One of his most quoted sayings.
12. **Getting along with its neighbours and with all states is the foundation of Turkey's policy.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Atatürk's Speeches and Statements (Söylev ve Demeçleri).
13. **My humble body will one day surely turn to dust, but the Republic of Turkey will stand forever.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — One of his most quoted sayings.
14. **We respect every idea, provided it is sincere and legitimate. Every conviction is worthy of respect to us.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — One of his most quoted sayings.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.