Benefits Quote by David Ben-Gurion
“This life as a simple citizen and laborer has its benefits not only for the person himself but perhaps also for his country. After all, there is room for only one Prime Minister, but for those who make the desert bloom there is room for hundreds, thousands and even millions. And the destiny of the state is in the hands of the many rather than of a single individual. There are times when an individual feels he should do those things which only can and should be done by the many.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the First Knesset, Israel, 1949
The quote argues that collective effort, not a single leader, drives a nation's prosperity and resilience.
In simple terms: Many people together build a stronger country than one leader alone.
Key Takeaway
Value teamwork and shared responsibility.
Themes
collective action
citizenship
national strength
leadership
societal resilience
Mood
pragmatic
inspirational
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- community projects
- public policy
- grassroots movements
- national emergencies
- economic development
Key Concepts
democracy
social capital
distributed power
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals balance personal initiative with collective goals?
- What mechanisms ensure many voices are heard?
A Different Perspective
It may underestimate the need for decisive leadership in crises.
![“[The Dalai Lama] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could, and still things get worse in Tibet." If you look at it from one point of view, as he himself says, his monastic position of forbearance and nonviolence hasn't reaped any…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fe/pico-iyer-1252_benefits_the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i_678.jpg)
