Shirin Ebadi

“Freedom of expression is the foundation of human rights, the source of humanity, and the mother of truth.”

“Human rights is a universal standard. It is a component of every religion and every civilization.”

“The law is not something that is imposed on us by some outside authority. We are the law. We are the ones who make it, and we are the ones who can change it.”

“I have no fear of expressing my opinions. It's my constitutional right, and I'm not going to be silenced.”

“It is not religion that binds women, but the selective dictates of those who wish them bonded.”

“Any person who is struggling for his or her rights is a human rights defender.”

“Violence is not the answer. It is the problem.”

“Democracy is not a matter of choice. It is a matter of survival.”

“The condition of women in a country is an indication of that country's progress.”

“My aim is to show that the Flowers of Peace can bloom in defiance of the Gun.”

“If you want to be a human rights defender, you must be prepared to be unpopular.”

“You can't be a revolutionary and a Nobel laureate at the same time.”

“The power of the people is much stronger than the people in power.”