Within our lifetime, we can remember a time when Islamism wasn't the dominant form of discourse or the aim should be to minimise the absolutists within any religious community and contain them.

No idea is above scrutiny. No idea whatsoever. To criticize, to scrutinize and to satirize my own religion [Islam] is not Islamophobia.

There are no globalized, youth-led, grassroots social movements advocating for democratic culture across Muslim-majority societies. There is no equivalent of Al-Qaeda without the terrorism.

Does freedom of speech give the right to offend?

Once you subscribe to an ideological dogma as a solution to certain grievances, it then frames your mindset.

Islamism is not Islam. Islamism is the politicisation of Islam, the desire to impose a version of this ancient faith over society.

After much soul searching I was able to renounce my past Islamist ideology, challenging everything I was once prepared to die for.

I believe that preventing radicalisation is far more efficient than de-radicalisation, meaning stopping someone joining is a lot easier than trying to pull someone out once they've joined.

We have to render Islamist extremism as unattractive as communism has become today.

In prison I had the opportunity to debate and discuss people that had subscribed to all forms of Islamism.

I am everything I am today, because of my past.

The early summer sky was the color of cat vomit. Of course, Tally thought, you’d have to feed your cat only salmon-flavored cat food for a while, to get the pinks right.

Why is it that you still beguile me –As wind, stone, bird – and all the likes? Why is that you smile on me – With sudden summer lightning strikes?

It should be the historian's business not to belittle but to illuminate the greatness of man's spirit.

As the warden of San Quentin, I presided over four executions. After each one, someone on the staff would ask, 'Is the world safer because of what we did tonight?' We knew the answer: No.

Don’t accumulate possessions; accumulate experiences!

A good friend doesn't try to break up a fight. A good friend comes in with a flying kick.

I know I'm not in government anymore. In fact I'm out of work.

I use the term "fool's gold white space" to highlight a common problem for innovation. People see a market that doesn't exist, and assume that one should exist.

I can envision observations and experiments that would disprove any evolutionary theory I know.

You can believe that he was taught to love and respect all mankind - but to fear no man.