If I could do just one thing, it would be to dissociate faith from virtue, now and for good, and to expose it for what it is, a servile weakness, a refuge in cowardice, and a willingness to follow, with credulity, people who are in the highest degree unscrupulous.

There are many, many discrepant views within the Shia theology about what's the proper role of religion in society or in the State, should it rule now, should it claim to govern people in the here and now, or should it wait until the Messiah, the 12th Imam, comes back and would it only be then appropriate for religious rule to bring about a world of universal justice and vindication.

A gentleman is never rude except on purpose - I can honestly be nasty sober, believe you me.

Henry Kissinger should have the door shut in his face by every decent person and should be shamed, ostracized and excluded.

Redemption is promised at the low price of surrender of your critical faculties.

I want to urge you very strongly to travel as much as you can, and to evolve yourself as an internationalist. It's as important a part of your education as a radical as the reading of any book.

I make preparations both to live and to die every day, but with the emphasis on not dying, and on acting as if I was going to carry on living.