What I Believe Quotes

“If there is a smoke, there is a fire, the saying goes, That is quite true, but one should find what the fire is, and who lit it.”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe

“I have learned that one should say "Peace!" to those who shout their hatred for one's being and presence or at one's passage.”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe

“The 'fires'n that produce thick, rarely innocent, often strategic smoke should therefore be scrutinized. they should be known and identified; and when they involve dishonesty, lies, or manipulation, they they should be ignored.”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe

“All of us should show humility, respect, and consistency. Humility, by admitting that nobody, no civilization or nation, holds a monopoly on universals and on the good, and that our political and social systems are not perfect; respect toward others because we should be convinced that their richness and achievements can be beneficial to us; and last consistency, because the other’s presence acts like a mirror in which we should confront our own contradictions and inconsistency in the concrete, day-to-day implementation of our noblest values.”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe

“To Muslims, I repeat that Islam is a great and noble religion but that all Muslims and Muslim majority societies did not in the past and do not now live up to this nobleness: critical reflection is required about faithfulness to our principles, our outlook on others, on cultures, freedom, the situation of women, and so on. Our contradictions and ambiguities are countless. To Westerners, I similarly repeat that the undeniable achievements of freedom and democracy should not make us forget murderous “civilizing missions,” colonization, the destructive economic order, racism, discrimination, acquiescent relations with the worst dictatorships, and other failings. Our contradictions and ambiguities are countless. I am equally demanding and rigorous with both universes.”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe

“Les prisons les plus dangereuses sont celles dont on ne voit pas les barreaux.”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe

“Leçon: Ne jamais réduire l'autre à la perception que l'on peut en avoir, à ses problèmes, à sa pauvreté ou à ses crises.”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe

“Comprendre n'est pas justifier, l'empathie autorise cette distinction et l'intelligence permet, par la compréhension, d'adopter une position critique nous permettant de chercher des solutions.”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe

“... que rien n'est jamais acquis et que nos fragilités restent, malgré les masques de la force. La force, finalement, c'est d'assumer ses fragilités et non se persuader qu'on les a dépassées, à moins que le fait de les dépasser consiste simplement à les assumer...”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe

“Il faut désormais faire entendre la voix de ceux qui construisent des ponts, et non plus le seul vacarme de ceux qui détruisent et cloisonnent.”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe

“Les perceptions sont souvent divergentes alors que les attentes et les espoirs sont similaires.”
― Tariq Ramadan, What I Believe