"People are always shocked to hear I'm an athlete by profession and even more shocked when they hear I'm a fencer from the United States. I challenge the stereotype that Muslim women are oppressed and that a Muslim can be American by birth. It's amazing how many assumptions people make, but I embrace the opportunity to use this Olympic platform to educate."

“Every time you think you can’t do something... someone else thinks they can.”

“Oh, we're playing nice now? Shall we have tea first? Brew up a nice pot of kiss-my-ass?”

Source : "The Iron King". Book by Julie Kagawa, February 1, 2010.

“I haven't been to a job interview since I was 16 years old. When I was approached by Givenchy it was more like a courtship.”

“You know what's good? Going on the ice and knowing that you don't have to skate when the whistle blows. All my life I've been the one skating.”

“Order is never observed; it is disorder that attracts attention because it is awkward and intrusive.”

Source : "The Great Secret, Or, Occultism Unveiled".

“Religion itself is without genius. There is no religious genius and no one would be permitted to distinguish between the talented and the untalented in religion.”

“I don't know. Sometimes I try to say what's on my mind and it comes out sounding like I ate a dictionary and I'm ***** pages. Sorry”

Source : J. R. Moehringer (2005). “The Tender Bar: A Memoir”, p.149, Hachette UK

“...the moon that hung over the garden like some great priceless pearl, flawed and blemished with grey shadowy ridges as only a very great beauty can risk being.”

Source : Anita Desai (1980). “Clear Light of Day”, p.159, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt