World leaders at UN General Assembly quote ancient kings, poets, and a rock band in speeches

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, world leaders and officials delivered speeches that frequently quoted from a wide range of sources, including ancient texts, poets, and even a 1980s rock band. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi cited the Babylonian king Hammurabi, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis quoted Talking Heads, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb referenced Mahatma Gandhi. Other leaders drew on national proverbs and literary figures. The quotations served to underscore each speaker's message and connect their national narratives to universal themes.