Quotes from Marjane Satrapi

I finally understood what my grandmother meant. If I wasn't comfortable with myself, I would never be comfortable.

We can only feel sorry for ourselves when our misfortunes are still supportable. Once this limit is crossed, the only way to bear the unbearable is to laugh at it.

When we're afraid, we lose all sense of analysis and reflection. Our fear paralyzes us. Besides, fear has always been the driving force behind all dictators' repression.

Nothing's worse than saying goodbye. It's a little like dying.

I want to be justice, love and the wrath of God all in one.

I had learned that you should always shout louder than your aggressor.

You are putting yourself in serious danger...' I think that I preferred to put myself in serious danger rather than confront my shame. My shame at not having become someone, the shame of not having made my parents proud after all the sacrifices they had made for me. The shame of having become a mediocre nihilist.

Culture and education are the lethal weapons against all kinds of fundamentalism.

I have always thought that if women's hair posed so many problems, God would certainly have made us bald.

In every religion, you find the same extremists.

You know, they say in France that translation is like a woman: she is either beautiful or faithful.

Saying goodbye is a little like dying.

I realized then that I didn't understand anything. I read all the books I could.

Life is absolutely unbearable. And we're going to die.

Anyway, that's how it is! Either they obey the law, or they're expelled!! And make sure they wear their veils correctly..." - "If hair is as stimulating as you say, then you need to shave your moustache!" My father actually said that.

In any case, it's the cowardice of people like you who give dictators the chance to install themselves!

I was a westerner in Iran, an Iranian in the West. I had no identity. I didn't even know anymore why I was living.

Listen. I don't like to preach, but here's some advice. You'll meet a lot of jerks in life. If they hurt you, remember it's because they're stupid. Don't react to their cruelty. There's nothing worse than bitterness and revenge. Keep your dignity and be true to yourself.

To be the mistress of a married man is to have the better role. Do you realize? His dirty shirt, his disgusting underwear, his daily ironing, his bad breath, his hemorrhoid attacks, his fuss, not to mention his bad moods, and his tantrums. Well all that is for his wife. When a married man comes to his mistress... he's always bleached and ironed, his teeth sparkle, his breath is like perfume, he's in a good mood, he's full of conversation, he is there to have a good time with you.

Teacher: What do you want to be when you grow up? Marji: I'll be a prophet.

We found ourselves veiled and separated from our friends.