“Today, as a result of a miraculous set of circumstances,”

The number of the opposition has certainly increased [in Iran].

We should put away the militaristic outlook.

We have two kinds of oppression. Oppression that is universal – everyone in Iran is subject to it. But everyone has also their own, unique way of experiencing this oppression.

They are the kind of dishonest and populist slogans that we are not willing to use.

I did join the Revolutionary Guard, but I was simply a simple Revolutionary Guard, never a commander.

The situation began to change, revolutionary conditions was created…we simply wanted to change the regime.

You cannot bring democracy to a country by attacking it.

Well-to-do classes are using all kinds of obvious and not-so-obvious benefits that this regime has created for it.

The modern infrastructures that exists in the world all contribute to the advancement of human rights and democracy.

When I was on my hunger strike, and I was in a hospital, the guards who inflicted all manner of injustice against me, and all manner of hardship…

There are varieties of theories of revolution. According to one of these theories, only one of these theories, revolutions occur when there is an explosion of rising expectation.

The most important dichotomy that I make for a society is between those who support democracy and human rights, and those who oppose it.

Three of our provinces have seen mass uprisings. The three provinces are Khuzestan, Azerbaijan, and Kurdistan.

Negotiation talks are the best way to solve anything. We must replace wars and weapons with negotiations and talks.

Why did the regime put me in prison in the first place? I was put in prison for six years and it has been all illegal.

Religion is the private affair of an individual…be present in the public domain, but state has to be clearly separated from religion.

I know I’m a good professional, I know that no one’s harder on me than myself and that’s never going to change, under any circumstances.

Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing. It may seem to point very straight to one thing, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely different.

I don’t know that love changes. People change. Circumstances change.

It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.

Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.

Wisdom means understanding without any doubt that circumstances do not rise to meet our expectations. Events happen as they may. People behave as they will.

An irresponsible person is a person who makes vague promises, then breaks his word, blames it on circumstances and expects other people to forgive it.

I’m aware that, whatever the circumstances, there will always be speculation about me.