“Would Americans accept if we decided to come here and decide who your rulers should be? So why do you expect us Iranians to accept the idea that the United States shall come in there and decide who shall govern us?”

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, too, am against the dismantlement of Iran.

The Shah’s regime was an incorrigible regime and after a while, when the revolution happened.

They obviously collected a lot of votes, but these monies could not solve the structural problems that these people face. But the only result, the only consequence, was that a big sum from the budget was wasted this way.

When I say that I am opposed to this budget, everyone says, “Well, what do you think the United States should do?” My response is, “Why should the United States do anything?”

We must struggle for creating a democratic system that is dedicated to democracy and human rights.

He never made economic promises to people and as a result, he never led to dissatisfaction in this perspective. Because they need to get votes, they use misleading slogans. And this leads to rising expectations. I had a personal experience.

The Revolutionary Guard was created to help defend the revolution, but it soon was diverted from its initial path.

In the West, when all of these reactors, nuclear reactors, are matters…part of the public domain, there are all kinds of supervision over them.

The struggle goes on. The victory is in the struggle, for me. And I accepted that a long time ago.

The real resistance now is to an art which forces its audience to recognize and accept imaginatively.

Love. Only love can accept our differences as we journey through life. And only love can allow space for our growth.

Living every moment as if it was our first and last is a genuine life of gratitude, acceptance and wisdom.

As far as I know, if you take your time, write a good script and make a good film, then give the audience time, they will accept it.

When we accept life as it is, we can respond appropriately to the way we’re experiencing it, rather than just reacting out of fear and aversion.

It’s an effulgence of the mind. It’s a brightness that is truly sensitive and accepting. It’s an ability to accept life as it is.

Do not be in a hurry or try to push your practice. If you become peaceful, then accept it,; if you don’t become peaceful, then accept that also.