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Habits and Talents

Atatürk enjoyed reading, horse riding, chess, and swimming. He also liked dancing and loved to Waltz and enjoyed traditional Zeybek folk dances. He liked Rumelian folk songs. Ataturk believed in learning foreign languages and was fluent in French and German and had his own personal library full of books on subjects such as politics, history, chemistry, and linguistics. He is also known for having a liking for the national beverage, rakı.

Toasting with rakı, in typical rakı glasses

Personality

Atatürk once said

“There is one trait I have had since my childhood. In the house where I lived. I never liked to spend time with my sister or with a friend. Since my childhood I have always preferred to be alone and independent, that is how I always lived. I have another trait: I have never had any patience with any advice or admonition which my mother – my father died very early – my sister or any of my closest relatives pressed on me according to their lights. People who live with their families know that there are never short of innocent and sincere warnings from left and right. There are only two ways of dealing with them. You either ignore them or obey them. I believe neither way is right" 

 

Atatürk had great leadership and communication skills and was very thoughtful of everyone. According to him, he likes to be alone and independent.

Personal Life

 

Family and Children

Ataturk married only once, to Latife Usakligil in 1923 which ended in divorce in 1925. Atatürk believed in children and said himself "Children are the beginning of tomorrow". He established April 23 as "Children's Day" and May 19 as ""Youth and Sports day." He adopted 7 daughters and a son and additionally had 2 children under protection.

 

 

 

Adopted daughters of Mustafa Kemal; left to right: Zehra Aylin, Rukiye and Sabiha.

Adopted daughters of Mustafa Kemal; left to right:Rukiye, Sabiha, Afet, and Zehra Aylin.

Mustafa Kemal's wife Latife Usakligil(1923).

Latife and Kemal at one of the tours of Anatolia

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