Edgar Bronfman Quotes & Sayings

Israel desperately needs peace if it is to come anywhere close to being the 'light unto nations' of Jewish dreams. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Investments are a real partnership, with an expected return; donations are a gesture made as a result of ethical, religious, or political passions. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

The Arab world needs to appreciate that legitimate historical claims and modern necessities are what make Israel the homeland of the Jewish people. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

There are signs that the Arab states are beginning to realize that a nuclear-armed Iran would be a threat to the entire region, and not just to Israel. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

No one said anything to my face, but I constantly heard comments denigrating Jews. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Agribusiness could provide an opportunity for joint Israeli-Palestinian projects, spurred on by Israeli technical expertise in this field. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Based on the Gaza precedent, Israel should not simply be expected to withdraw from territory and let it devolve into a state of anarchy. The West Bank is simply too close to Israel's major population centers and infrastructure to allow it to become another launching pad for rockets. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

If you look at the market cap increase in Apple since it created the iPod versus what's happened to the music industry, you have to say Apple got the better part of that deal. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

During my many years in international business and public life, I have had the good fortune of sitting down for lunch with people with whom I completely disagreed, in practice and principle: Soviet communists, heads of state from various unsavory regimes, benighted religious figures, corrupt business leaders. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

As a liberal and progressive, I abhor the notion of conflict and bloodshed and very much want to find a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear issue. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

The iPod made music mobile, but today, how many devices do you need to walk around with? You want it on just one. And inevitably that's going to be the phone. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

Any time that you can give the consumer more of what they want, it's a good thing. I said from Day 1 that the unbundling of the album is a good thing. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

By packaging a full album into a bundle of music with ringtones, videos and other combinations and variations, we found products that consumers demonstrably valued and were willing to purchase at premium prices. And guess what? We've sold tons of them. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

It strikes me as hubris that Universal will buy EMI. What it will do is create a super-major that will have far too much power ... I think when Universal goes up over 40 percent market share, I don't see how reasonable regulators can countenance. It will impact not just labels, but artists and cultural diversity. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

The beauty of Judaism is that it demands we ask questions, especially of ourselves. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Jewish sovereignty and governance over our ancestral home are, I believe, important goals that every Jew ought to support. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

In politics, as in business, leadership is crucial. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

The Palestinian economy is, and will likely continue to be, highly reliant on trade. And yet, trade between the Palestinian Authority and the Arab states is extremely limited. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

A lasting two-state solution requires two credible partners, and not just one side - Israel - taking superficial steps simply to placate world opinion. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

The principles governing Western democracies, of which Israel rightly considers itself a part, are based on the assurance that everyone has a vote, but also that the minority needs to yield to the wishes of the majority. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Making money is marvelous, and I love doing it, and I do it reasonably well, but it doesn't have the gripping vitality that you have when you deal with the happiness of human life and with human deprivation. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

And since discriminating fans can pick and choose exactly what they want to buy, artists and their labels are more conscious than they've ever been of making sure that every song on a new album is as good as can be. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

Contrary to many of the rumors and innuendo in circulation, I wholeheartedly believe that Obama views Israel's security as absolute. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

A peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will likely depend to a great extent on the economic development of a future Palestinian state. As I have argued before, private sector investment - especially in the West Bank - is going to prove crucial in creating the right political and social context for peace. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

The most vexing problem Israel faces is its relations with its neighbors. From the inception of the state until today, Israelis have felt besieged, surrounded by enemies who want to make them disappear. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

I made the decision when I came to Seagram that it had to be OK that my public persona would be bad. It's the downside of a family business: anything good is because I'm somebody's son; otherwise, I'm a schmuck. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

There are no easy solutions for Israel's own governance problems. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

My childhood was marked by a tension between privilege on the one hand and emotional dysfunction on the other. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

I would like every Jew to be as comfortable in his skin as I am in mine. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

I'd vote for Mickey Mouse before I voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

You need to look no further than Apple's iPhone to see how fast brilliantly written software presented on a beautifully designed device with a spectacular user interface will throw all the accepted notions about pricing, billing platforms and brand loyalty right out the window. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

The majesty of the American Jewish experience is in its success marrying its unique Jewish identity with the larger, liberal values of the United States. There is no need anymore to choose between assimilation and separation. We are accepted as equals. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

The search for a Jewish national home came about due to centuries of anti-Semitic pogroms, expulsions, discrimination and hate. The Holocaust was simply the evil culmination of all that came before it. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

It is high time that the Arab world's professed desire for peace is matched by responsible action, and not more of the same equivocation. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

The Jews' fear of assimilation and intermarriage should not replace fear of anti-Semitism. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

It's interesting that the book publishing industry, on the iPad, has much more flexibility than the music industry had. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

Economic support from the rest of the Arab states to the fledgling Palestinian Authority in the West Bank is virtually non-existent. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

To turn $100 into $110 is work. To turn 100 million into $110 million is inevitable. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

We must restrict the anonymity behind which people hide to commit crimes. As citizens, we have a right to privacy. We have no such right to anonymity. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

Intermarriage is not a calamity but an opportunity for both a Jewish and non-Jewish partner to learn. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

My father put it right when he said: 'I don't get ulcers. I give ulcers.' — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

For decades, the plight of the Palestinian people has been exacerbated by internal corruption, a lack of effective investment, and the political cynicism of the Arab states, who often did not have the best interests of the Palestinians at heart. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as running mate is the towering example of his poor judgment. Palin's ignorance of public affairs is monumental. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Just as we send young American Jews to Israel through the Birthright program, we need to also consider a 'reverse Birthright' for Israeli kids to come see America. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

In terms of defending Jews, I'm a Jew. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Much of what has gone wrong in the pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace is due to a lack of strong leadership, primarily among the Palestinians. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

As my other obligations are beginning to take an inordinate amount of time, I have asked to step down as WMG's board chairman, effective January 31, 2012. However, I will remain a director of the company and in that way, continue my association with Warner Music and its extraordinary people. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

In the modern era, Jewish sovereignty over the land of our ancestors is a relatively short phenomenon. From the time of the successful Maccabean revolt to the Roman annexation in 63 BC constitutes about 100 years of Jewish rule. Combined with Israel's independence in 1948, this is about 160 years of effective sovereignty. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Maintaining control indefinitely over millions of Palestinians will inevitably lead to a demographic nightmare and cannot be sustained if Israel is to remain true to its founding principles. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Arab youth are taught to wonder, 'Since the Holocaust was a European affair, why are the Palestinians being forced to pay for the creation of Israel?' — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

With the common Iranian threat bringing the Sunni Arab world and Israel closer together, an Israeli-Palestinian peace would go a long way in improving relations and rebuffing Iran's regional ambitions. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

If Catholics and Jews can today come together regularly for talks after so many tears and so much blood have been shed, than Jews and Arabs must be able to do the same. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

I've had three wives. I've had five weddings. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

I don't believe in God. I do believe in Judaism. I believe in ethics, morals. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

A two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a region free of Iranian nukes are worthy goals that should be able to withstand public scrutiny in every Middle Eastern capital. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Researchers consistently find that most older volunteers, when compared to older nonvolunteers, have fewer functional and physical impairments, overall better health, higher life satisfaction and less depression. In addition, they attend religious services more frequently and belong to more social organizations. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Any time you can give consumers more of what they want, it's a good thing. Unbundling the album is a good thing. In the case of music - because it is content that you can slice into songs - doing that is of huge benefit to consumers. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

Frankly, right is right and wrong is wrong, particularly when a parent is talking to a child. A bright line around moral responsibility is very important. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

I remind everybody that the Sabbath was the Jewish gift to civilization. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

George W. Bush is long gone, and with him the idea that 'Israel can do no wrong.' — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

Commercial success still hasn't come to an artist that isn't signed to a record label. There are very few artists that can succeed without the help of a record label. The role of the record label is still required, it's still necessary. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.

As an American Jew who loves Israel, I cannot support John McCain. He cannot provide what Israel needs most - a respected, credible, morally strong America. — Edgar Bronfman, Sr.

The history of the music industry is inevitably also the story of the development of technology. From the player piano to the vinyl disc, from reel-to-reel tape to the cassette, from the CD to the digital download, these formats and devices changed not only the way music was consumed, but the very way artists created it. — Edgar Bronfman Jr.