Quotes From The Leaders Profiled

“The important thing about a regime is not what it is called but how it acts.  There are corrupt republican regimes and sound monarchies and vice versa.  The only true criterion of a regime -- whether it be monarchical or republican -- is the degree of reciprocity between the ruler and ruled and the extent to which it symbolizes prosperity, progress and healthy initiative.” ~ King Faisal ibn Abdul Aziz
     (Reported in "King Faisal and the Modernization of Saudi Arabia")

“You are either alive and proud or you are dead, and when you are dead, you can't care anyway.  And your method of death can itself be a politicizing thing.  So if you can overcome the personal fear for death, which is a highly irrational thing, you know, then you're on the way.” ~ Steve Bantu Biko
     (Reported in "The New Republic" magazine)

“It's not easy always to stand aside and be unable to do anything except record the sufferings around one.” ~  Robert Capa
     (Reported in his book "Images Of War")

“I have seen death so often that it is not strange or fearful to me. . . . Life has always been hurried and full of difficulty.  This time of rest has been a great mercy.  Everyone here has been very kind.” ~ Edith Cavell
     (Reported in the book "Edith Cavell" by Rowland Ryder)

“When we make ourselves fit we shall be free.  If we could accept that truth we would be inspired again with the same fervour and devotion by our own grim resolve within the nation to complete the work which is so nearly done.” ~ Michael Collins
     (Reported in the book "The Path to Freedom")

“Authority means the orderly exercise of power — leadership by responsible and unselfish men who are prepared to sacrifice their own interests.” ~ Engelbert Dollfuss
     (Reported in the book "Assassination In Vienna")

“Education is a liberating force, and in our age it is also a democratizing force, cutting across the ... barriers of caste and class, smoothing out inequalities ... imposed by birth and other circumstances.” ~ Indira Gandhi
     (Indira Gandhi National Open University site, http://www.ignou.ac.in)

“Whenever I am unhappy, because men will not believe me in the things that I say at God's bidding, I go apart and pray to God, complaining to him that those to whom I speak do not easily believe me.  And when I have made my prayer to God, I hear a voice that says to me:  'Child of God, go, go, go!  I shall be with you to help you.  Go!'” ~ Joan of Arc
     (Reported in the book "Joan of Arc – In Her Own Words")

“A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
     (From “The Words Of Martin Luther King, Jr.”)

“Freedom only for the supporters of the government, only for the members of one party -- however numerous they may be -- is no freedom at all.  Freedom is always and exclusively freedom for the one who thinks differently.” ~  Rosa Luxemburg
     (Reported in the book "Rosa Luxemburg" by J.P. Nettl)

“Any help that countries can give us for reconquering our country, we need it.” ~ Ahmad Shah Massood
     (Quoted in the BBC News)

“What begins as a threat to the Jews is soon a menace to the entire world.  It is but a short step between a knifing in Jerusalem and bombing the World Trade Center in New York.  All of this has influenced the pattern of our position in the coming years.  One hand we will outstretch in peace, the other we will keep poised on the trigger.” ~  Yitzhak Rabin
     (Reported in his autobiography "The Rabin Memoirs")

“One dies only once and, if one does not die well, a good opportunity is lost which will not come again.  If one must die, let one die at least in his country, for his country, and in the name of his country.” ~ José Rizal
     (Reported in the book "Freedoms Martyr")

“This is my fate.  No man can escape his fate.  The day of my death is set beforehand by God.  It might take place in Jerusalem or in Cairo, on a bridge or under a bridge.  The hour is coming, have no doubt.  How can we forget the words of God almighty:  Wherever you may be, death shall overtake you; even though you be in fortified castles.” ~ Anwar el-Sadat
     (Reported in his book "Those I Have Known")

“It isn't easy to banish all thoughts of the war.  Although I don’t know much about politics and have no ambition to do so, I do have some idea of right and wrong, because that has nothing to do with politics and nationality.  And I could weep at how mean people are, in high-level politics as well, and how they betray their fellow creatures, perhaps for the sake of personal advantage.” ~ Sophie Scholl
     (Reported in the book "At The Heart Of The White Rose")

“Tell your people that we have not come here to gain peace, but are prepared for battle, to avenge and deliver our country.  Let them come up when they like, and they will find us ready to meet them.” ~ William Wallace
     (Reported in the book "William Wallace: Brave Heart")

“If people have such great expectations, then it can only help them.  From their faith and confidence, they'll gain the strength to resist.  If they believe the passes are legitimate and powerful, then they may convince others, even the police, that they're powerful.  The confidence and faith of the Jews here has given us all strength.  It gives me strength.” ~ Raoul Wallenberg
     (Reported in the book "Lost Hero")

“They feel so much love for the land.  They still don’t believe it when they're told:  This land is yours.  They think it's a dream.  But after they've seen other people drawing crops from these lands they, too, will say:  I'm going to ask for my land and I'm going to sow there.” ~  Emiliano Zapata
     (Reported in the book "Villa And Zapata")