I know that my cell phone in Iran... is bugged, and they listen in, and my emails, I'm sure, are monitored inside Iran. They have my email address; it's not like they can't snoop on it.

It's a tradition in Islamic society to issue pardons at the end of Ramadan.

If you are an [American] politician it's very hard to imagine. "Now we are going to treat these guys as our equals? That's ridiculous. What have they ever done to deserve that?"

Americans tend not to distinguish between political rhetoric and real intentions, which can lead to great misunderstanding.

There's a lack of knowledge about Iran and the Iranian people.

The thing about Iran is there are many political factions and it's not quite the dictatorial, authoritarian state with one person always making every single decision.

Iran is a huge country and much, much more sophisticated than most people imagine... It certainly has the potential to be at least the way Turkey is to most Americans.

The wrong Democratic reaction to a stupid Republican utterance is to play hurt.

I was born in Iran, left at a very young age - less than a year old - and grew up and was educated in the West.

I mean, we do believe in due process in America. I thought we did.

Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.

Success is not due to spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire.

You've got a deep core of sweetness that's quite incorruptible.

To make what fate intends for me my own intention

When Life knocks at the door no one can wait, When Death makes his arrest we have to go.

We've all been influenced by other people...If Minnie Riperton never existed, would I have even thought of singing in that (upper) register? I doubt it.

The thing about narcissistic people is that they don't think they're being narcissistic.

I think a lot of contemplation happens in bathtubs. It does for me. Nothing like a hot bath to ease the tension and think about what's going to happen next.

The Secret of living is giving

No one really likes Switzerland, except those who prefer cleanliness to life.