Independence and Negation of Attachment
(Wise Sayings of Imam Khomeini )
o We must be ready to fight all things if we want to maintain our
independence.
o The essential thing is that we believe that we ourselves can do a given
thing.
o The country is our own and we ourselves must develop it.
o The greatest tragedy for our nation is this mental dependence or
attachment, the thinking that all things are from the West and we are poor
in every dimension.
o A country that wants to stand on its own feet and be independent in all
dimensions has no choice other than to erase from its mind the idea that
we must import things from abroad.
o We wish to live poorly but be free and independent.
o We must prove to ourselves that we. too, are human; that we. too, exist in
this world; that the Orient, too. is a place and all is not West.
o We regard freedom and independence as the value of life.
o My greatest wish is that the people of Iran will be delivered from
oppression and in possession of a country that is free, independent with an
Islamic system in which human rights are observed as Islam has decreed,
and be a model of progress, advancement and happiness to all nations.
o My brothers! If you want to be honored in this and the next world and to
live respectfully, you ought to stand up against others with force but be
very kind and considerate to yourselves.
o Prepare yourselves to rebuild your country. It is worthwhile that we work
hard 10 to 15 years so that our country be freed from the clutches of these
human-devouring wolves.
o My dear children, it is now up to you to do all you can to irrigate the
freedom and independence sapling of your country.
o If we resist, we shall be aided by the divine graces.
o The all-inclusive independence of our country's legislative, judicial and
executive powers must precede all other issues in our national-
governmental planning.
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o Whoever you are, wherever you are. your every effort must be made to
ensure our independence.
o Make an all-out effort to uproot the last traces of this country's
dependence on foreigners in any area.
o This intellectual, rational and mental attachment and dependence is the
root of most of the miseries of the nations including our own.
o If we emerge from this intellectual attachment, all of our dependencies
will come to an end.
o You, noble people of Iran, achieved a great victory in your struggle
against colonialism and exploitation. You succeeded, by trust in God. the unity of expression, and participation of all strata, to overwhelm the tyrant of the age and to shake the backs of the superpowers.
o Blessed shall be the day when the hand of foreigners is cut off our
countries and the Muslim lands, and when Muslims stand on their own
feet.
o We want a free, independent and strong Iran; an Iran to be run by the
nation itself.
o As long as our two hands are extended to the East and the West, we are
dependants. We who want to be independent should first wake up and realize that we. too. have personalities and we can perform work.
o Do not think that we have to get from others all we need; no. think of
making all things yourselves.
o The Muslims' holidays are blessed and auspicious when Muslims
themselves secure their independence and dignity, the dignity that all
Muslims enjoyed in the early days of Islam.
o As long as we do not admit that we are persons with abilities to do certain
things and Muslims have personalities, and as long as we do not want a
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certain thing, we cannot do it and as long as we do not wake up to something, we do not want it.
o Colonialism and exploitation must be completely uprooted from this
country.
o We do not permit anyone to interfere in our country's affairs.
o After so much superficial backwardness, our need for the heavy industries
of foreign countries is an undeniable fact. But this does not mean that we should be attached to one of the two poles in advanced sciences.
o The East or West makes no difference to us; we shall achieve real
independence by our trust in God and the brave nation.
o The Iranian nation wants to stand on its own feet without having to rely on
the East or on the West; rather, stand firm on its religious and national resources.
o The Iranian nation is determined to rescue itself from the clutches of
colonialism and tyranny, and be independent and free. It bases its policies on these two points and does not mind who like or who dislike such policies.
o We oppose foreign interference in the destinies of nations and fight
against it.
o Your search for freedom and independence is recorded in the frontlines of
history.
o My counsel to the present and future foreign ministers is that your
responsibilities are enormous: whether in reforming the Ministry and embassies or in the area of foreign policy, preservation of independence, protection of the country's interests, or in having good relations with countries that do not seek to interfere in the affairs of our country. Therefore, try to decisively avoid any and all things that are tinged with dependence in all its dimensions and forms.
o If we want to advance Islam further, we must no longer be servants.
o Which people are reactionary””those who want to take away the
independence and freedom of our nation and country, or those who want
to shake off the burden of oppression and be independent?
o We hope that universal peace will be established on the basis of the
independence of nations, non-interference in each other's affairs, and
observation of the pinciple of territorial integrity of the countries in the
region.
o We stand on our own feet and are surely victorious.
o If you wish to find real independence and freedom you must act so as to
be self-sufficient in all things.
o Mental independence is the first condition for independence; intellectual
independence is the first condition for independence.
o The nations themselves should show concern for Islam.
o If the people believe that they can oppose big powers, such belief will
enable them to withstand those powers.
Source: 'Wise Sayings of Imam Khomeini" book
