We must become Icelanders in soccer, Israelis in defending our

The words of Volodymyr Zelensky—“We must become Icelanders in soccer, Israelis in defending our land, Japanese in technology”—resound like the cry of a leader urging his people to draw strength from the finest examples of nations across the earth. They are not merely comparisons, but symbols, chosen with care, to inspire resilience, unity, and vision. In his call, Zelensky speaks as one who knows his nation stands in trial, and he reaches beyond its borders to summon lessons from those who have endured, triumphed, and risen through perseverance.

The origin of this quote lies in Ukraine’s struggle for survival and transformation. As war pressed upon his land, Zelensky sought not only to rally courage but also to ignite imagination. To be like the Icelanders in soccer is to recall a people small in number, yet mighty in heart. Iceland, with fewer than half a million souls, stunned the world in 2016 by defeating England in the European Championship. They proved that discipline, teamwork, and belief can overcome giants. In invoking Iceland, Zelensky tells his people: “Though small, we can astonish the world.”

To be like the Israelis in defending their land is to call forth the spirit of survival against overwhelming odds. Israel, a nation born amidst hostility, has endured wars, sieges, and ceaseless threats, yet remains steadfast, defending its people with vigilance and unity. Its citizens live with the knowledge that the defense of the homeland is the duty of all. By this image, Zelensky urges his people to be unyielding, to defend Ukraine with the same resolve—that every citizen must be a guardian, every village a fortress, every family a pillar of resistance.

And to be like the Japanese in technology is to aspire to excellence in innovation and discipline. Japan, once devastated by war and atomic fire, rose from ashes to become a world leader in precision, craftsmanship, and advanced technology. Its recovery was not by chance but by devotion to improvement, to mastery, to vision beyond mere survival. In this, Zelensky points his nation toward the future: it is not enough to resist; Ukraine must also rebuild, advance, and become a beacon of progress in its own right.

Thus, in a single sentence, he unites three symbols: Iceland for courage in smallness, Israel for defense of the homeland, Japan for progress through technology. Together they form a philosophy of survival, resilience, and transformation. His words teach that nations, like individuals, must learn from others, drawing upon the best virtues of the world to shape their destiny. For no country is an island entire of itself; each may take strength from the victories of others.

History provides many such lessons. When Sparta stood against the Persian horde at Thermopylae, they embodied Israel’s spirit of defense: few in number, but unyielding in courage. When Florence in the Renaissance embraced art and science, they mirrored Japan’s rebirth through mastery of knowledge and craft. And when the American colonies faced the vast might of Britain, they were as Icelanders on the soccer field—small, underestimated, yet capable of astonishing victory. Zelensky’s call is a reminder that greatness is not bound by size, but by spirit, unity, and vision.

The lesson for us is clear: if a nation—or a person—would endure trials and ascend beyond them, it must cultivate the courage of the small, the vigilance of the besieged, and the vision of the rebuilder. Courage, defense, and progress—these three form the pillars of survival and greatness. In our own lives, this means facing challenges with unshaken resolve, protecting what is sacred to us, and always striving to improve, to innovate, to leave the world better than we found it.

So let Zelensky’s words be remembered as more than a speech to a nation at war. Let them be a teaching to all generations: be Icelanders in courage, Israelis in defense, Japanese in mastery. For those who unite these virtues in their lives and in their nations will not only endure hardship but will rise triumphant, astonishing the world with their strength, resilience, and brilliance.