Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

happiness is realized only in the face of unhappiness

Patience is the key to solutions.

Storytelling is power. A powerful book or movie can inform and inflame.

If you stand near a blacksmith, you will get covered in soot, but if you stand near a perfume seller, you will carry an aroma of scent with you.

sadly, all of my wounds had been inflicted by men

I would be the master of my life, no matter what actions I would have to take or pain I would have to endure

Only when we evolved as spirited stallions, with a strong will of our own, would we progress and leave the era of those primitives behind us.

I came to dread what I might discover next in the cruel world of men

We must support all women in their endeavors to help others. When you harm a woman, you harm the whole world.

the world of men harbours a morbid condition of overfondness for themselves

it was a known topic: The day of the virgin was leaving our land! Ali puckered

There are four main sources of the Shari’a: the Koran, which is compiled of thousands of religious verses revealed by God through his Prophet, Mohammed; the Sunna, which are the traditions the Prophet addressed that are not recorded in the Koran; the Ijma, which are the perceptions of the Ulema, or religious scholars; and the Qiyas, which is a method whereby known jurists agree upon new legal principles.

Crimes are classified into three divisions: Hudud, Tazir, and Qisas. Crimes of Hudud are crimes that are denounced by God; the punishment is made known in the Koran. Crimes of Tazir are given to the appropriate authority to determine punishment. Crimes of Qisas give the victim the right to retaliate.

If the Prophet could speak in this new age of modern amenities, I knew he would end such silly tradition.

We must all work together to bring change to this earth.

When you harm a woman, you harm the whole world.

I had no use for a husband under duress

I was born free, yet today I am in chains. Invisible, they were loosely draped and passed unnoticed until the age of understanding reduced my life to a narrow segment of fear. - Sultana

In California, after weeks of meeting transported Americans from practically every state in the Union, I announced to Kareem that I liked these strange loud people, the Americans. When he asked me why, I had difficulty in voicing what I felt in my heart. I finally said: 'I believe this marvellous mixture of cultures has brought civilization closer to reality than in any other culture in history.' I was certain Kareem did not understand what I meant and I tried to explain. 'So few countries manage complete freedom for all their citizens without chaos; this has been accomplished in this huge land. It appears impossible for large numbers of people to stay on a course of freedom for all when so many options are available. Just imagine what would happen in the Arab world; a country the size of America would have a war a minute, with each man certain he had the only correct answer for the good of all! In our lands, men look no farther than their own noses for a solution. Here, it is different.' Kareem looked at me in amazement. Not used to a woman interested in the greater scheme of things, he questioned me into the night to learn my thoughts on various matters. It was obvious that my husband was not accustomed to a woman with opinions of her own. He seemed in utter shock that I thought of political issues and the state of the world. Finally, he kissed me on the neck and said that I would continue my education once we returned to Riyadh. Irritated at his tone of permission, I told him I was not aware that my education was up for discussion.

I had never been to America and was anxious to form an opinion of the people who spread their culture worldwide, yet seemed to know so little of the world themselves. New

I have the tendency to be nervous at the sight of trouble looming. As the danger draws near, I become less nervous. When the peril is at hand, I swell with fierceness. As I grapple with my assailant, I am without fear and fight to the finish with little thought of injury.

wed. Kareem would find it difficult to outwit

The man who marries a woman for her beauty will be deceived; he who marries a woman for good sense can truly say he is married. - Sultana

the gate. He looked as though he had been sleeping; his