My religious upbringing was comically strict — even the Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner was banned. In our house, no one was allowed to refer to deviled eggs. We had to call them angelic eggs. We were never allowed to swear. I'd get into trouble just for saying 'Hell no'. If you dropped a hammer on your toe in our house you had to say something like 'Jiminy Christmas'. The only music we were allowed to listen to was gospel. No wonder I rebelled.

---

There is no such thing as a faithless person; we either have faith in the power of love, or faith in the power of fear. For faith is an aspect of consciousness. Have faith in love, and fear will lose its power over you. Have faith in forgiveness, and your self-hatred will fall away. Have faith in miracles, and they will come to you.

---

We are not here to fix, change or belittle another person. We are here to support, forgive and heal one another.

---

I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality. . . asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me.

---

As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.

---

To understand my feelings — and my conception of the role of Secretary General — the nature of my religious and cultural background must first be understood. I should therefore like to outline not only my beliefs but also my conception of human institutions and of the human situation itself.

---

To err is human, to forgive, divine. ― Alexander Pope

---

It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.

---

You can’t change someone’s behaviour, all you can do is remind them, and hope that Allah will change their heart.

---

If you are suffering from a bad man's injustice, forgive him lest there be two bad men.

---