Latest Fethullah Gulen Quotes from Interviews

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• To defeat terrorism, we must acknowledge that we are all human beings. It is not our choice to belong to a particular race or family. We should be freed from fear of the other and enjoy diversity within democracy. I believe that dialogue and education are the most effective means to surpass our differences.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Believe, Mean, Race

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• [Terrorism] is formed of certain fundamental problems, [including] ignorance, poverty, and fear of others. Some people take advantage of the young and foolish. They are manipulated, abused, and even drugged to such an extent that they can be used as murderers on the pretext of some crazy ideals or goals.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Crazy, Ignorance, People

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• Muslims have never been and never can be so base as to expect any solutions to their problems through terror.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Problem, Terror, Solutions

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• The Muslim world suffers from internal divisions, antidemocratic practices, and the violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Rights, Practice, Suffering

  Interview with David Kenner, foreignpolicy.com. February 25, 2010.

• Terrorism is one of the cardinal sins that the Koran threatens with hellfire.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Sin, Terrorism, Cardinals

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• Islam abhors and absolutely condemns terrorism and any terrorist activity.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Islam, Terrorism, Terrorist

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• I have repeatedly declared that it is impossible for a true Muslim to be a terrorist, nor can a terrorist be regarded as a true Muslim.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Impossible, Terrorist

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• A small minority in Turkey even accuses me of having political ambitions, when in fact I have been struggling with various illnesses for many years.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Struggle, Ambition, Years

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• Some [people] think that there is a central organization responsible for all the institutions they wrongly think affiliated with me. They ignore the zeal of many to serve humanity and to gain God's good pleasure in doing so. They ignore people's generosity. Such misunderstandings may lead others to have suspicions about the financial resources of the schools.

  Fethullah Gulen

  School, Thinking, Organization

  Source: gulenlibrary.org

• Some people may regard my views well and show respect to me, and I hope they have not deceived themselves in doing so. Some people think that I am a leader of a movement.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Thinking, Views, People

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• I cannot accept concepts such as Gülenism or Gülenist. 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.

  Fethullah Gulen

  People, Pressure, Influence

  Interview with David Kenner, foreignpolicy.com. February 25, 2010.

• I do not believe so many Turks suspect my activities. The idea that this movement of volunteers is suspected by many Turks arises in the same way and for the same reasons that the world hears more about those Muslims whom the media call radicals. Since those who give this impression are extremely loud, some observers can be deceived.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Believe, Media, Ideas

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• My only role in the opening of the schools has been to suggest and encourage opening them. But it is impossible for there to be a [central authority] controlling the schools. They are in more than 100 countries, and there must be many different companies that have opened and run them.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Running, Country, School

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• Politics can be a factor neither in shaping Islam nor directing Muslims' acts and attitudes in Islam's name.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Attitude, Names, Islam

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• Islam as a religion focuses primarily on the immutable aspects of life and existence, whereas a political system concerns only social aspects of our worldly life.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Political, Islam, Worldly Life

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• Islam's basic principles of belief, worship, morality, and behavior are not affected by changing times. Islam does not propose a certain unchangeable form of government or attempt to shape it. Islam has never offered nor established a theocracy in its name. Instead, Islam establishes fundamental principles that orient a government's general character.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Character, Government, Names

  Interview with David Kenner, foreignpolicy.com. February 25, 2010.

• I have never had, nor will I ever have, any [political] ambitions. The only thing on which I have always set my heart is being able to gain God's good pleasure and, therefore, trying to make him known correctly and loved by humanity.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Heart, Ambition, Political

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• The Koran says that humanity has been created to recognize and worship God and, as a dimension of this worship, to improve the world in strict avoidance of corruption and bloodshed. It requires treating all things and beings with deep compassion. This is my philosophy, which obliges me to remain aloof from all worldly titles and ranks.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Philosophy, Compassion, Humanity

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• I am not indifferent to the appreciation of kind people. [The voters were] extremely kind in naming me the world's top public intellectual, a title to which I can never see myself as entitled.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Appreciation, People, Intellectual

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.

• I have never imagined being or wished to be chosen as something important in the world. I have always tried to be a humble servant of God and a humble member of humanity.

  Fethullah Gulen

  Humble, Servant Of God, Humanity

  "Meet Fethullah Gülen, the World’s Top Public Intellectual". Foreign Policy Interview, foreignpolicy.com. August 4, 2008.