"Four years ago in speaking of a Jewish nation one ran the risk of being regarded ridiculous. Today he makes himself ridiculous who denies the existence of a Jewish nation"

Theodor Herzl's quote is a reflection of the dramatic shift in attitudes towards the Jewish individuals in the late 19th century. Herzl was a leader of the Zionist motion, which sought to create a Jewish nation in the Middle East. At the time of his quote, the idea of a Jewish country was still seen as a radical principle, and those who mentioned it were frequently ridiculed. Nevertheless, Herzl's quote suggests that by the millenium, mindsets had changed and it was now those who rejected the existence of a Jewish nation who were viewed as outrageous. This quote is a testament to the development made by the Zionist movement in a reasonably short amount of time, and the increasing approval of the concept of a Jewish country.