"I prefer being penetrated by iron to seeing Palestine is loose"

Theodor Herzl was a Jewish journalist and political activist who is commonly credited as the founder of modern-day Zionism. This quote is drawn from his book, Der Judenstaat, which was released in 1896. In this quote, Herzl is revealing his choice for a physical, concrete solution to the Jewish people's struggle for a homeland, instead of a political solution. He is suggesting that he would rather be "penetrated by iron" than to see Palestine stay in a state of disarray and without an unified Jewish state. This quote reflects Herzl's dedication to the Zionist cause and his belief that a physical solution was the only method to accomplish a Jewish homeland. Herzl's quote is an effective reminder of the importance of acting and working towards tangible options to hard problems. It likewise serves as a suggestion of the value of defending what you think in and defending what is right.