“A society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated...”

“‎I know you're still young but I want you to understand and learn this now. Marriage can wait, education cannot. You're a very very bright girl. Truly you are. You can be anything you want Laila. I know this about you. And I also know that when this war is over Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated Laila. No chance.”

“But the game involves only male names. Because, if it's a girl, Laila has already named her”

“And one more thing...You will never again refer to him as 'Hazara boy' in my presence. He has a name and it's Sohrab.”

“God has granted you a special talent. It's now your duty to hone that talent, because a person who wastes his God-given talents is a donkey.”

“Her beauty was the talk of the valley.It skipped two generations of women in our family, but it sure didn't bypass you, Laila.”

“I see America has infused you with the optimism that has made her so great”