Habib Bourguiba Quotes (1903-2000)

“"The only Jews who interest us are our fellow citizens. ... Basically and profoundly, we are with the West."”

“"You are wrong. The state and its existence are essential before everything else. All this preoccupation with liberty is not serious."”

“Bourguiba on Gamal Abdel Nasser:''
"not aware of the danger of Communism. Once the Iron Curtain drops, there is no escape."”

“Bourguiba on Ramadan's effect on Tunisia:
"Stagnation, weakness and decadence ... beautiful custom ... pretext that paralyzes our activity."”

“Bourguiba quoting Muhammad:
"Break the fast, and you will be stronger to confront the enemy. ... humiliating backward condition of our country."”

“"I will impose women's freedom and rights by the force of the law, and I will not wait for the democracy of a people duped by male culture in the name of religion."”

“Bourguiba on people who patronized the Zéro de Conduite (Zero for Conduct), nightclub:
"Practice a shameful exhibitionism in morbid and degrading dances."”

“"We have the proof that our disagreement with the U.A.R. is more than a simple misunderstanding."”

“"How many times, have I had to seat women whom I received at audiences next to me, rather than facing me, in order to avoid general embarrassment? Nothing should compel us to suffer such trials. It puts the nerves of men and the modesty of women to a severe test."”

“"At the moment of a revolution there is no question of setting up a democracy like that in America. If they accuse me of dictatorship, I accept. I am creating a nation. Liberty must be suppressed until the end of the war in Algeria—until the nation becomes homogeneous."”

“Bourguiba warning the French:
"it will mean war. ... Today I am the President of the Republic, but I will be the first to join the Maquis. ... Tunisia is always ready to turn the page. ... I have promised the Tunisian people that the French army will go, If I fail, I will be swept away."”

“"The relationship between a woman and a man is built on the basis of mutual respect .. The woman is not required to bury herself in life because the man is unable to control his instincts like animals .. The woman raises the man's face, hair, height, width, smell, and even the voice of her is roughened, but the woman has learned to control her instincts. The man is also required to rise to the level of the woman."”

“"I do not think that the time is right to talk about democracy in its absolute concept. Arab societies marginalized their modern thinkers and scholars for the elders who stopped their time before fourteen centuries, which is the difference between us and them .. Therefore, it was necessary to work on spreading a more realistic culture in which modern science has a more open place. Take, for example, if we asked the Tunisian people (he meant former President Bourguiba then and not now) to hold a referendum on his position on women's education, then I can assure that 99.99% will refuse her education."”