“The desired Islamic state might be likened to an orchard planted with olive and palm trees that will take a relatively long time to produce fruit.”

“Attempting to defeat the enemy by wrestling with people could be likened to trying to destroy a tree by picking all its fruit.”

“Your children will be like olive shootsaround your table." -Psalm 128:3Children are likened to olive plants. Olive plants, if not pruned and controlled, become a wild nuisance. On the other hand, small olive plants that are nurtured and trained in the way they should grow do not grow wild and do not have scars from pruning since the pruning is done while they are young and tender. The later you do the training, the more scars they will have and the less likely there will will be success in directing their growth.”

“If the Olive Trees knew the hands that planted them, Their Oil would become Tears.”

“If you want your tree to produce plenty o' fruit, you've got to cut it back from time to time. Same thing with your neural cells. Some people might call it brain damage. I call it prunin'.”

“How shall I raise dead men up to plow fields that are fallow? How shall I plant young olive trees?”Mikel smiled, and it was a beautiful smile. “One tree at a time,” He said.”