Waris Dirie Quotes & Sayings

I feel that God made my body perfect the way I was born. Then man robbed me, took away my power, and left me a cripple. My womanhood was stolen. If God had wanted those body parts missing, why did he create them?
I just pray that one day no woman will have to experience this pain. It will become a thing of the past. People will say "Did you hear, female genital mutilation has been outlawed in Somalia?" Then the next country, and the next, and so on, until the world is safe for all women. What a happy day that will be, and that's what I'm working toward. In'shallah, if God is willing, it will happen. — Waris Dirie

I belong nowhere and to no one. — Waris Dirie

Laws are important. But they can only be effective if the people know about the particular laws. — Waris Dirie

My mother named me after a miracle of nature: Waris means desert flower. The desert flower blooms in a barren environment where few living things can survive. — Waris Dirie

Fashion is fun, ridiculously fun. But it's base and it's wrong. You're not doing anything good for the world. You're just saying, 'Buy it, buy it, buy it.' — Waris Dirie

Female genital mutilation targets little girls, baby girls - fragile angels who are helpless, who cannot fight back. It's a crime against a child, a crime against humanity. It's abuse. It's absolutely criminal and we have to stop it. — Waris Dirie

I can enjoy anywhere, and I can leave it. Life is about moving on. — Waris Dirie

Don't do to your daughters what has been done to you! They are perfect and beautiful. — Waris Dirie

I still do find it very difficult in the West to connect to this politeness of smiling, not saying how you're thinking or not saying how you really feel. — Waris Dirie

Women's loyalty has to be earned with trust and affection, rather than barbaric rituals. The time has come to leave the old ways of suffering behind — Waris Dirie

FGM breaches all human rights and has no place in any 21st century society. — Waris Dirie

Because women and girls are not valued equally as human beings, they are treated as less than such. Female genital mutilation is one example of this that has to be stopped. — Waris Dirie

I've never been one to stay still. I was born a nomad, and I still am a nomad and always will be. — Waris Dirie

Many friends have expressed concern that a religious fanatic will try to kill me when I go to Africa. After all, I'll be speaking out against a crime many fundamentalists consider a holy practice. I'm sure my work will be dangerous, and I admit to being scared ... . But my faith tells me to be strong, that God led me down this path for a reason. He has work for me to do. This is my mission. And I believe that long before the day I was born, God chose the day I will die, so I can't change that. In the meantime, I might as well take a chance, because that's what I've done all my life. — Waris Dirie

Personal style? I don't really believe in that. Whatever is comfortable. — Waris Dirie

Mama tied a blindfold over my eyes. The next thing I felt my flesh was being cut away. I heard the blade sawing back and forth through my skin. The pain between my legs was so intense I wished I would die. — Waris Dirie

I love life. I wish I could live another 500 years, truly. There is so much to do. I don't feel bitter or angry or disappointed. If anything, I am very grateful for where I come from. I have absolutely no regrets. — Waris Dirie

Sometimes I wonder where I am from. I am either way ahead or I come from another world. I don't recognise this world. — Waris Dirie

Every day, women move mountains. It is an insult to have an international women's day. — Waris Dirie

If you can survive in the desert, you survive anywhere. I know more than anything life in desert. You can tell by looking at the dirt how long ago it rained, how hard it rained, how much water came through. You can by looking at a plant, a tree, from an animal's look. I can read the desert like I read my hand. — Waris Dirie

I love the truth. Tell the truth and live the truth, because we've seen enough lies and look what it's doing. — Waris Dirie

I don't know what a supermodel is. If they call me that, I might have to punch them. It's just so vain and so unreal. — Waris Dirie