Israel Zangwill Quotes

“How full and rich a world
Theirs to inhabit is—
Sweet scent of grass and bloom,
Playmates’ glad symphony,
Cool touch of western wind,
Sunshine’s divine caress.


How should they know or feel
They are in darkness?


But, oh, the miracle!
If a Redeemer came,
Laid finger on their eyes—
One touch and what a world,
New-born in loveliness!”

“The past is our cradle, not our prison, and there is danger as well as appeal in its glamour. The past is for inspiration, not imitation, for continuation, not repetition.”

“An Edward's England spat us out - a band
Foredoomed to redden Vistula or Rhine,
And leaf-like toss with every wind malign.
All mocked the faith they could not understand.”

“No… the real American has not yet arrived. He is only in the Crucible, I tell you—he will be the fusion of all races, perhaps the coming superman.”

“No Jew was ever fool enough to turn Christian unless he was a clever man.”

“America is God's Crucible, the great Melting-Pot where all the races of Europe are melting and re-forming!”

“Oh, for the simple life,
For tents and starry skies!”

“Scratch the Christian and you find the pagan — spoiled.”