Words of Wisdom
Damascus has seen all that has
ever occurred on earth, and still she lives. She has looked upon the dry
bones of a thousand empires, and will see the tombs of a thousand more
before she dies. Old Damascus is by right, the Eternal City.
Mark Twain,
visiting Damascus in the 19th Century.
The Syrians are a great people,
and you are worthy of leading a great people, Mr. President.
Winston Churchill,
speaking to President Shukri al-Quwatli in the Suez Canal in 1945.
This is such a
romantic and nice little city.
Charlie
Chaplin,
upon visiting Damascus in 1932.
With the right
training and talent, the Syrians can transform their country from a
Third World into a Second World country. I am honored to call myself a
friend of the statesmen of Damascus.
Charles
de Gaulle, visiting Damascus in 1941.
This is a beautiful
and proud city.
Che
Guevara, visiting Damascus in 1959.
I am glad to be
visiting Damascus; it’s a visit that is long overdue.
American
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, in Damascus in 1953.
The Damascene rose
makes me feel bright and optimistic
Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, visiting Syria in 1957
In a special way we pray for
the leaders of this noble land of Syria. Grant them wisdom,
farsightedness and perseverance; may they never yield to discouragement
in their challenging task of building the lasting peace for which their
people yearn. Salam! Salam! Salam! Amen!
Pope John Paul II,
visiting Syria in 2001.