Investment in education and economic prosperity is the best way to cure fanaticism and for establishing a just peace in the Middle East. – Ahmed Zewail
When Mohamed Morsi was elected president of Egypt in 2012, many in the country, including me, were hopeful that he would become a democratic president for all Egyptians – not only for the Muslim Brotherhood. – Ahmed Zewail
Although there exist in the world today some microbes of the soul, such as discrimination and aggression, science was and still is the core of progress for humanity and the continuity of civilization. – Ahmed Zewail
The family’s dream was to see me receive a high degree abroad and to return to become a university professor – on the door to my study room, a sign was placed reading ‘Dr. Ahmed,’ even though I was still far from becoming a doctor. – Ahmed Zewail
A femtosecond is comparable to one second in 32 million years. It is like watching a 32-million-year movie to see one second. – Ahmed Zewail
Like everywhere in the world, people of the Middle East aspire to liberty and justice. They wish to have a better life and a decent education for their children. – Ahmed Zewail
As a boy, it was clear that my inclinations were toward the physical sciences. Mathematics, mechanics, and chemistry were among the fields that gave me a special satisfaction. – Ahmed Zewail
The mosque was the neighbourhood house of worship, but it was also the place where my high school friends and I came to study. – Ahmed Zewail
Mubarak came to power as a hero who fought bravely in Egypt’s wars and headed the nation’s air force. – Ahmed Zewail
It is true that Egypt’s attempt at democracy after the 2011 revolution encountered many obstacles in governance and infrastructure. – Ahmed Zewail
I am not one of the new media experts working all the time with my computers and the PowerPoints and things of that sort. – Ahmed Zewail
After World War II, scientific research in the U.S. was well supported. In the 1960s, when I came to America, the sky was the limit, and this conducive atmosphere enabled many of us to pursue esoteric research that resulted in America winning the lion’s share of Nobel Prizes. – Ahmed Zewail
Some leaders think time will solve the problem. Their hope is that Assad’s regime will ultimately fall from the heavy toll of the horrors it has spawned. From past experience with such regimes, this scenario is unlikely to happen. – Ahmed Zewail
Every effort should be made to help build the new democratic nation with reconciliation and forgiveness, for the sake of Egypt and not for the benefit of a party or a group. – Ahmed Zewail
As recently as the September 11 event, the majority of Muslims were, as the rest of the world was, against its violence. However, if despair and humiliation continue in the population of more than one billion Muslims, the world will face increasing risks of conflicts and wars. – Ahmed Zewail
Human resources are just tremendous in Egypt, but we need the science base; we need the correct science base. – Ahmed Zewail
The co-existence of religious values in the lives of individuals and secular rules in the governance of the state should be clearly defined. – Ahmed Zewail
Molecules A and B meet, marry, and beget the species. This takes place in one-millionth of a billionth of a second. This is a fundamental process in nature, and the world was looking for a way to be able to see the process. But many brilliant people said it couldn’t be done. – Ahmed Zewail
Besides being a prime cause of poor economic growth, poor governance breeds corruption, which cripples investment, wastes resources, and diminishes confidence. – Ahmed Zewail
As someone from, and directly involved with, this part of the world, I am convinced Arabs are qualified to regain their glorious past. – Ahmed Zewail
Some consider the removal of Dr. Mohammed Morsi a coup by the army against an elected president. Others treat it as the second revolution, or the continuation of the January 25, 2011, revolution. – Ahmed Zewail
America was and still is able to make the necessary changes to maintain research institutions that are the envy of the world. – Ahmed Zewail
Investing in science education and curiosity-driven research is investing in the future. – Ahmed Zewail
Growing up in Egypt, I never saw the country as divided as it is today. We now have two main political groupings: the Islamist parties and the civil, or liberal, political parties. – Ahmed Zewail
I teach at Caltech and oversee a research laboratory there. In general, I find that the majority of young people are excited by the prospects of research, but they soon discover that in the current market, many doctorate-level scientists are holding temporary positions or are unemployed. – Ahmed Zewail
Shortly after Sisi was elected, his administration announced cuts of ‘subsidies’ on natural gas and energy consumption and lowered those for bread and other goods. Such action was taboo during the Mubarak and Sadat presidencies for over half a century, but Sisi was able to convince Egyptians he was taking necessary action. – Ahmed Zewail
