Ruhollah Khomeini Quotes

Islamic state means a state based on justice and democracy and structured upon Islamic rules and laws.

Don't listen to those who speak of democracy. They all are against Islam. They want to take the nation away from its mission. We will break all the poison pens of those who speak of nationalism, democracy, and such things.

Variant: I shall kick their teeth in. I am appointing the government. I am appointing the government by the support of this nation!

These people are trying to bring back the regime of the late Shah or another regime. I will strike with my fists at the mouths of this government. From now on it is I who will name the government.

Ayatollah, would you be so kind as to tell us how you feel about being back in Iran?
Nothing. I don't feel anything. (Hichi. Hich ehsasi nadaram)

Before the revolution I thought there are appropriate individuals who would do the job according to Islam, therefore I repeatedly said that clerics would go after their own job. Then I saw that most of them were inappropriate individuals and I found out that what I said was not true, so I came and clearly announced that I was wrong.

From the beginning while we were engaged in these issues, I said in interviews with those who came from abroad, even in Najaf or Paris or among my personal words, I have always said that clerics have an occupation which is more important than these executive jobs, and should Islam become victorious, clerics would dedicate themselves to their own occupation. But as we went on with the revolution, we found out that if we tell all clerics to go after their mosques, this country would fall into the throat of America and Soviet Union. We experienced and saw, those who took the lead but were not clerics, even though some of them were religious people, our revolutionary path was not according to their taste, therefore... we temporarily deviate from our original word until this country could be administered by those other than clerics, then clerics will go back to their preach and their own position and they will leave executive matters to others who work for Islam.

After the Shah's departure from Iran, I will not become a president nor accept any other leadership role. Just like before, I limit my activities only to guiding and directing the people.

In the Islamic government all people have complete freedom to have any kind of opinion.

In Iran's future Islamic system everyone can express their opinion, and the Islamic government will respond to logic with logic.

You young people yourselves are capable of performing anything. Our inventors can invent in a high level, Our innovators can innovate in a high level, only if they keep self confidence and believe that we can.

Personal desire, age, and my health do not allow me to personally have a role in running the country after the fall of the current system.

In the Islamic Republic the rights of the religious minorities are respectfully regarded.

Women are free in the Islamic Republic in the selection of their activities and their future and their clothing.

With people's revolutionary rage, the king will be ousted and a democratic state, Islamic Republic, will be established.