Fethullah Gulen Quotes

"Profiling any segment of society and viewing them as a threat is a sign of intolerance."

"My message is, if someone beats you, act like you don't have hands. If someone slurs you, act like you don't have a tongue. Society is already polarized enough, don't make it worse."

"It is possible that people who share core values will make choices along the same lines."

"We are mortals, we will die one day."

"Studying physics, mathematics, and chemistry is worshipping God."

"I cannot accept concepts such as Gulenism or Gulenist. I was only a writer and an official preacher among people. I can have no direct influence on any person or activity. It is inconceivable that I can exert pressure on anybody."

"I consider myself an ordinary Muslim who is constantly working to put himself in the framework established by the Koran and the tradition of the Prophet Mohammed. I study the works of experts of jurisprudence, Koranic commentary, hadith commentary, and Sufism."

"I simply share ideas I believe in with people around me."

"In many places around the world, including Turkey until the 1950s, Muslims didn't have full freedom of religion. Even personal practice was not allowed, and they had to practice in secret."

"Erdogan thinks if he gets rid of me, he thinks ending me will end the movement. He couldn't be more wrong."

"The greater jihad is proclaiming war on our ego's destructive and negative emotions and thoughts... which prevent us from attaining perfection."

"When the opportunities come, Cemaat participants, just like any other citizen will make their choices based on their values."

"I have always been against coups, and I cursed them."

"My position on democracy is really clear. Any attempt to overthrow the country is a betrayal to our unity and is treason."

"I have always believed in seeking happiness in the happiness of others and the virtue of seeking God's pleasure in helping His people."

"I don't see a bright future for Turkey. It pains me. But I have some hope, I pray for it to be better. It is a blessed country, a NATO member, and was an E.U. candidate. These were things we wanted."

"I feel the pain of people who suffer in my own neurons and sometimes cannot even watch TV. It is impossible not to be worried. But I trust that however cruel treatment they receive, Hizmet sympathizers will continue to respect to the law and will remain peaceful."

"I have always tried to be a humble servant of God and a humble member of humanity."

"Entrepreneurs and volunteers inspired by Hizmet's values have invested in modern education and community service in more than 150 countries."

"I have spent over 50 years preaching and teaching the values of peace, mutual respect and altruism."

"We invite our friends who hold high positions in the legislative branch of government and state institutions to master the skills of administration, so they could, when the time comes, reform the Turkish state and make it more fruitful at all its levels in the name of Islam."

"Telling or encouraging people to vote for a party would be an insult to peoples' intellect."

"If I were to say anything to people I may say people should vote for those who are respectful to democracy, rule of law, who get on well with people."

"My message to the Turkish people is never to view any military intervention positively because through military intervention, democracy cannot be achieved."

"Under any circumstances, if I had to return to Turkey and face the gallows, I will not blink an eye."

"I think the United States is mindful of its reputation for its democracy and rule of law, and if they are willing to risk that reputation by extraditing me based on the request and claims made by Turkey, I would never say no. I would go willingly."

"I suffered during the military intervention of May 27, 1960, and then again on March 12, 1971 and again on September 12, 1980, and I was targeted February 28, 1997. My respect for the military aside, I have always been against interventions."

"I grew up in a humble family with a shy personality."

"The noble position of motherhood aside, our general opinion about women is that, while taking into account their specific needs, it should be made possible for them to take on every role, including the jobs of physician, military officer, judge and president of a country."

"We will never be a part of any plot against those who are governing our country."