If you bet on individuals, instead of the people, you are going to fail.

When you have half of Caironese in slums, when you don't have clean water, when you don't have a sewer system, when you don't have electricity, and on top of that you live under one of the most repressive regimes right now... Well, put all that together, and it's a ticking bomb. It's not of a question of threat; it is question of looking around at the present environment and making a rational prognosis.

Once in a while, I have to pinch myself to remind myself I am Nobel laureate, but that is not part of my work plan every day.

You either have a civil society or you dont.

As much as we Egyptians treasure our military, acting alone it cannot provide the legitimacy to lay the foundations for democracy.

My conscience does not permit me to run for the presidency or any other official position unless it is within a democratic framework.

In my view, stability only comes with a government that is elected by the people and works for the people.