Who on earth do the Americans suppose their allies are amongst the Arab world? Even Saudi Arabia they seem to regard as nothing more than a resevoir of oil and money.

I want the standard of living in Iran in ten years' time to be exactly on a level with that in Europe today. In twenty years' time we shall be ahead of the United States.

My main mistake was to have made an ancient people advance by forced marches toward independence, health, culture, affluence, comfort.

To be first in the Middle East is not enough. We must raise ourselves to the level of a great world power.

Let the dog bark; the moon shall beam on.

You approach the Mullahs as if they are normal people. They are not. You see them in your own image; you should not.

Muslim brothers be damned; they're our greatest enemies. You know yourself that I'm a Muslim, even a fanatical Muslim. But that does nothing to alter my opinion of the Arabs.

Thank God we in Iran have neither the desire nor the need to suffer from democracy.

My advisers built a wall between myself and my people. I didn't realize what was happening. When I woke up, I had lost my people.

Nobody can influence me, nobody. Still less a woman. Women are important in a man's life only if they're beautiful and charming and keep their femininity.

They want liberalization! I'll give them liberalization. I'll loosen the screws until the Americans beg me to tighten them again.

I wonder in what way I would function as a person, in a society without ever attending school. I'd be myself.

Man is more likely to believe an opinion that he wanted to hear … than a fact that he wishes was an opinion.

I can't get my wrists to bleed, just don't know why suicide appeals to me.

It is not my prayer and humility that you cause things to go as you wish, but by acquiring a knowledge of natural laws.

I'm pretty much a chocolate guy. I'm up for any type of chocolate. Any chocolate.

My mouth is a womb. My teeth are my children. My tongue is their babysitter.

You can keep as quiet as you like, but one of these days somebody is going to find you.

Why are people so unkind?

In the phrase ' human being,' the word 'being' is much more important than the word 'human.'

Hazel squinted. "How far?" "Just over the river and through the woods." Percy raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? To Grandmother's house we go?" Frank cleared his throat. "Yeah, anyway.