Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with Young Elites

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

I have greatly benefited and enjoyed. Hearing these words from you dear youth - who truly feel like beloved children to me - is genuinely delightful. I thank God that I see this self-awareness among the youth of this country growing day by day. The points you have raised here, each of them - whether in the field of human sciences, moral education, the relationship between science and industry, or enabling talents and elites - have been among my long-standing wishes, which we have expressed and sought over the years, and today I see these have turned into a public demand.

I thank you all; I thank the organizers of this national conference, and I agree with most of the points you have made; I believe in them, and as Dr. Vaez-Zadeh stated, these and the other points raised in the conference have been recorded and must be considered and implemented one by one; and they will be.

Various factors may delay our reaching these aspirations slightly; however, know that this scientific movement, this surge and blossoming, this growth and fertility, cannot be stopped and will progress with divine grace; it is not dependent on any individual. This movement has begun in the country; this self-awareness has emerged and, God willing, will reach its destination.

Today’s session pursues two goals in my view: one is a symbolic goal at the national and public level, which we want to establish in our country - at the level of public opinion - the belief that the scientific movement in the country is serious. The country’s officials want this and are seriously pursuing it and value science and the seeker of knowledge and scientific elites; this is the meaning of this symbolic movement and this symbolic gathering we have here today.

The second goal is a renewed reminder to the country’s officials - government officials, officials of various sectors - that they must pursue this demand. In macro policies and executive policies, the advancement and scientific growth of the country must be considered a definite and necessary program and taken into account. God willing, these two goals will be achieved.

I will only mention a few points; many good words have already been said by you. One point, which is not new, is that: the scientific movement for our country is a double necessity; it is a confirmed and emphasized need. It is necessary; why? Because science is the factor of dignity, power, and security of a nation - which I will briefly explain - it is doubly confirmed; why? Because this duty has not been fulfilled over the past hundred years from the best times; since the mid-Qajar era when the scientific and industrial movements in the world peaked and flourished - from the mid-second half of the nineteenth century - and science showed itself in the form of colonialism; the West, with access to scientific tools, was busy colonizing the world. Since that day - nearly a hundred years or more - when it was time for our awakening and awareness, this great duty, the duty of scientifically advancing the country, has been suspended and halted for various reasons.

The main reason was the dominance of despotism, the dominance of tyrants, the dominance of weak and subservient puppet monarchs. We are heirs to this backwardness. Therefore, our efforts must be doubled. Thus, it is a need, and this need is confirmed and emphasized.

In this regard, you know that science is a need, but it is good for me to reiterate that truly a country that is devoid of science cannot expect dignity, independence, identity, personality, security, and welfare. The nature of human life and the course of life affairs is such. Science grants dignity. There is a saying in Nahj al-Balagha that is very profound. It states: "Knowledge is power"; knowledge is authority. "Knowledge is power; whoever possesses it is powerful, and whoever does not possess it will be subdued"; knowledge is authority. Whoever seizes this power can dominate; they can prevail; whoever does not obtain this authority will be subdued; others will dominate them; they will be forced into submission.

The Iranian nation has felt this reality over a long period, with its skin, flesh, and bones. They imposed their will on us; they bullied us; they seized our resources; they deprived our nation of welfare. Our country has a bitter and painful history of this hundred-year period, the consequences of which we are now experiencing; even though we have started the movement; the revolution changed the situation; it turned the page. Today our country is one that is unparalleled in terms of political and international dignity; our enemies also acknowledge this. The nation has awakened. It is brave. The country has identity and personality; yet we are also witnessing its results. That is, those who acquired knowledge a hundred or two hundred years before us and advanced several fields ahead of us and attained the blessings of knowledge are still bullying us. The issue of nuclear energy and scientific and technological capability is one such example. "Do not have it; we do not trust you"; this is bullying. Who tells us: we do not trust you?! Those who themselves created two world wars in twenty years and set the whole world ablaze with war; the Europeans.

Those who tell us they do not trust us are the ones who, wherever they could, sent their military forces. A living example of this is Iraq, which you see; an older and more painful example is Palestine; another example is Afghanistan; another is Kosovo; another is various regions of the world; one example is Hiroshima.

Those who are responsible for the major evils of the world in the industrial era are theirs and from their side, to the Iranian nation, which has not once in these years - including during the post-revolution period - been aggressed against by this country to a neighbor or non-neighbor - we are discussing the Islamic Republic; we do not concern ourselves with the previous ones. During the Islamic Republic, not a single bullet has been fired from our country towards a neighbor. This is universally accepted - they say: we do not trust you! This means bullying. Now a country like a certain North African country, when they make such a frown at it, panics, gathers all its equipment, boards a ship, and says take it away!

The Iranian nation stands and will stand; not only in this matter, we have stood in dozens of issues similarly; now this matter has been brought to the public level. In dozens of issues from the beginning of the revolution until today, we have stood against bullying, tyranny, and the powerful, against the loud voices, against frowns, internationally; they have understood that we do not yield. But this bullying exists. Why does this bullying exist? Because the other side is armed with knowledge. See, this is very instructive for you young people.

A foreign government, alien to ethics, alien to spirituality, indifferent to international rights like the United States, because it possesses knowledge and has been able to convert this knowledge into technology and apply it in its life, gives itself the right to bully at the international level. "Whoever possesses knowledge can dominate others - and whoever does not possess it will be subdued" - if you do not have it, they will dominate you. See, the necessity is here.

The conscience of every human being, a human who cares about their own self, their identity, their family, their children, their future and generation, and their nationality and country and national and religious identity, cannot remain indifferent to this issue. This is why I have insisted on the issue of the scientific movement for years, I emphasize it and pursue it.

Science, scientific advancement, and learning are the first needs of our country; of course, all sciences - I will explain now - and it is not only experimental sciences. All sciences must be pursued in their own place, and our country can do it. Therefore, the result of the first point is that you, who are a small part of the vast harvest of the country’s elites, can be effective in creating national power and in the construction and future of the country.

The second point is that our country has a level of talent cultivation and possessing elites that is above average. This must be reflected in calculations. I once said in a gathering of the country’s officials in this very Hosseiniyeh - several years ago - that the geographical area of our country is approximately one-hundredth of the cultivated geographical area of the world, our country’s population is seventy million, which is approximately one-hundredth of the world’s population. Therefore, our average right to underground resources of the world is one-hundredth; however, we have the most important underground resources more than one-hundredth: essential metals, steel, copper, lead, and many other mines; all three percent, two percent, four percent of the world’s reserves are in our country. Oil, which is well-known, and we are the second largest holder of oil in the oil-rich region of the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. Gas, we are the second largest holder of gas in the world. See how many times the average per capita of human beings, our nation and our country possess natural resources.

Now I want to say that this increase in ratio also applies to human resources. That is, our country does not have one-hundredth of the world’s elite human resources; it has more than one-hundredth. I cannot provide statistics; because it has not been calculated. The percentages we mentioned regarding natural resources have been calculated. We have not calculated this; God willing, we hope to reach these things in the future. However, the evidence indicates this. The things we have heard from worldly-wise individuals surveyed by the world’s universities all confirm this. I have heard from numerous individuals that in the best universities in the world, the number of Iranian elites - when Iranians are there - is proportionally two to three times that of other countries. The late Dr. Chamran was truly an intellectual elite - now his scientific aspect has been overshadowed by his military and martyrdom aspects - and he studied in the highest and most advanced universities in America. He told me that there were elites from other countries in that center; however, Iranians were more numerous in most sections of the university and had more prominence and visibility. Of course, he was a carrier; but I have heard this from numerous individuals and have many reports in this regard. Well, then we will not face a shortage of human resources in the future.

Our past also shows this. Unfortunately, we are disconnected from the past. Our youth do not know our scientific history. This is one of our weaknesses that has been recommended, it has been said that work should be done in this regard - regarding the history of science in Iran - and work is being done, and good works have been done, which God willing will increase more in the future.

Throughout these centuries, we have had scientific luminaries in our country, which of course have weakened in recent centuries. Incompetent kings, various internal wars did not allow it; otherwise, in various periods and in various fields of contemporary sciences, we have been elite cultivators. In the fourth and fifth centuries AH - that is, the tenth and eleventh centuries AD, which is the period of the European Middle Ages; that is, the period of utter ignorance - we had Ibn Sina, we had Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi. When Europeans look back at the past, they think the whole world was in the Middle Ages! They have written history too! Unfortunately, their histories have also been translated and promoted in our country. The European Middle Ages, that is, the period of utmost darkness and ignorance; a period in which we had Farabi, we had Ibn Sina, we had Khwarizmi. See how great the distance is!

Once, I mentioned in a gathering of youth about "The History of Science" by George Sarton or other histories of sciences - I do not remember the author’s name now. They are all foreign; I do not want to repeat their names anymore - I have mentioned points about the state of Muslim progress in that period.

Therefore, we are not facing problems and weaknesses regarding elite human resources; neither today, nor God willing in the future. Day by day, it must increase; elites must be identified.

The third point is that: see, my dear ones! We want to make the country scientific; but the goal of making the country scientific is not to westernize the country. Let there be no misunderstanding. The West has knowledge, but alongside knowledge and mixed with this knowledge, they also have things from which we flee. We do not want to become Western; we want to become knowledgeable. The knowledge of today’s world that is considered knowledgeable is a dangerous knowledge for humanity. They have placed knowledge in the service of war, in the service of violence, in the service of immorality and sex, in the service of drugs, in the service of aggression against nations, in the service of colonialism, in the service of bloodshed and war. We do not want such knowledge; we do not want to become knowledgeable in this way. We want knowledge to be in the service of humanity, in the service of justice, in the service of peace and security. We want this kind of knowledge. Islam recommends this knowledge to us.

On the day when Islamic countries, especially our Islamic Iran, were at the forefront of knowledge, we did not colonize any country, we did not strike any nation, we did not bully any nation. Islam wants knowledge with faith, with the Book and Sunnah, with moral refinement, with ethics and spirituality. How much I enjoyed this phrase from the noble supplication of Sha’ban that this young lady read in her speech: "O God, grant me a heart that draws near to You with longing and a tongue that raises Your remembrance" or "and a gaze that brings me closer to Your truth"; O God, grant me a heart that draws near to You with longing and love. A Muslim scholar wants this; closeness to God, spirituality, sincerity, purity.

And this is when this knowledge, this immense treasure, this great weapon will be employed in defense of humanity; in the service of human security, justice among humans, peace and tranquility of humans and human societies. We want this. Set this as your goal.

Today, listen to the tone of those who sit on political thrones whose foundations are built on distorted capital and knowledge - capitalism - see how Western governments are today. Now at the peak of Western powers is America. The seat of power is based on the cartels and trusts of capitalists and its tool is knowledge. They use weapons through knowledge; they use espionage and information theft through knowledge; they use collusion in various parts of the world through knowledge. See what the leaders of these countries with such distorted knowledge say? You heard the speech of the American president a few days ago, how repulsive, how violent and arrogant it was. This pride and arrogance is gradually sinking them into a quagmire. Today you should know this - I am now telling you. You will see that day; that day we will not be there, but you young people will see that day - that this civilization built on this wrong foundation is sinking into a quagmire; it is sinking deeper into the swamp moment by moment and will fall without a doubt. This same pride, this same foolish and arrogant arrogance is one of the factors of the very downfall that awaits them. They will fall. They make a lot of noise today; but they are moving down the slope, they themselves are not aware; of course, their wise ones are aware. Their wise men have been shouting for years, warning; alarm bells! But who listens; they are intoxicated.

There are two intoxications in them; the intoxication of hedonism, the intoxication of power. A person who has one intoxication cannot absorb anything into their mind; when two intoxications come upon someone, it is a disaster! They eat both those dog-like poisons, for example, and ecstasy pills; they have consumed both! Now the sword of knowledge is also in their hands. We must skillfully and wisely maneuver to bring them down; and God willing, we will bring them down.

Be aware that we are not seeking this knowledge. We are seeking knowledge that brings us closer to spirituality, to humanity, to God, to paradise. And you young people have pure hearts. I am saying these words, but the heart that is more ready to take shape from these words is your heart. You are the ones who with your young hearts and with your fresh and vibrant spirits can traverse this path.

The fourth point is: regarding elites, there is a duty that falls upon the government, and a duty that falls upon the elites. The duty of the government is the very things that Dr. Vaez-Zadeh - our esteemed Vice President - mentioned. These are the duties of the government; they must be fulfilled, I emphasize and will pursue them, God willing. Fortunately, the government’s direction is also that these must reach results. What you said about elites being in the Elites Foundation and various centers must definitely be realized. I want to say that this is indeed the case. The gentlemen who today run the Elites Foundation and this scientific vice presidency are among our young elites. They are not far from you in age and are among the same elites who have fortunately come to power and have been able to rise to the Vice Presidency and establish the scientific vice presidency and the Elites Foundation, and these great works are being carried out by you young elites.

And as for the elites themselves. I am addressing you who are here; but this is directed to all the elites of the country. Our elites are not just you. Thousands, hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of elites and talents exist in this country that must be identified. The first point is to be careful that pride does not take hold of you. In the words of these dear young people who spoke here, this was also the case. Pride, self-importance, entitlement; these are not right; they are harmful to you. You are the children of this house; you are the children of this soil and water. Your fathers and mothers in this country are those who spent their youth to build this edifice so that you could live comfortably in this structure. They have rights. Be careful not to impose on the elders, not to insult, not to disregard. Do not demand from the country and the nation. Of course, I said that the duties of the government and those who have capabilities in non-governmental sectors are clear; their duties are specified; but you also pay attention to this point.

My second advice to you dear ones: define a historical and national role for yourselves, not a personal role. When a talented person defines a personal role for themselves - their goal becomes to reach wealth, to gain fame, for everyone to know them, for everyone to respect them; this becomes the goal. Once they achieve these things, they have no further motivation left; but when a person defines a national role, a historical role for themselves, the situation changes. You must consider the future and history of the country and see where this nation must reach and where you are positioned in this great wheel and rail. Today, what role must you play so that one day this nation can be there? Define such a role for yourselves; raise your goals high.

My third advice is to elevate your ambitions. I have said this several times now in gatherings of youth and elites. The ambition should not be that we can now build a technology that others have made and from which we have always bought and imported; now we can supposedly build it here. That is something. Of course, it is something, it is not insignificant; but it is not what we are pursuing. Set your goal that your nation and country can become a scientific and technological reference in the world. Once, I said in a gathering of young elites: you should work so that in a period - now this period may be fifty years or forty years from now - every scientist who wants to access the latest scientific products must learn Persian, which you have written your work in Persian; just as today you must learn a certain language to access a certain science to find and read the reference book. You should work so that in the future, your country reaches such a status; and you can. Once it was like this; the books of Iranian scholars were translated into their languages, or they learned that language to understand. It is also worth noting that the book "The Canon" by Ibn Sina, which is in medicine, was translated into Persian just fifteen years ago - during my presidency - I followed up on it; I assigned individuals, and then I heard that a very talented Kurdish translator translated it into Persian, and today its Persian translation exists. Until that time, "The Canon" had been written in Arabic - Ibn Sina wrote the book in Arabic - and had not been translated into Persian; while several hundred years earlier it had been translated into French! That is, those who needed this book took it and translated it. See, this is scientific authority; they are compelled to translate your book or learn your language. Set your goal this way. Elevate your ambitions. Set your ambitions to progress in the field of knowledge and break the boundaries of science, which of course, I have other points in this regard, but time has run out and I must say the last point.

We must formulate the comprehensive scientific map of the country. I said this last year to this scientific assembly, and now it is being done in the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, but this work must be done with as much seriousness as possible. We must know what the comprehensive scientific map of the country is. Which science, to what extent, fits where in this map. It should not be that like an athlete who only works on their arms and their arms become this big, while their legs and chest and shoulders are like a skinny person! This is of no use. An athlete who only works on their chest, while the rest of their limbs have no strength, is of no use. It must be proportional. Some of these dear young people mentioned human sciences. In some branches of human sciences, we are centuries ahead of the world. We are far ahead of those who are considered leaders in this field today. Why should we not pursue these? In various fields of human sciences; literature, philosophy, history, art, we have a long history. Some other human sciences also exist that, although they have come from the West, if we pay close attention, their essence, which is rationality and empiricism, comes from Iranian-Islamic thought and spirit. Superstitious Europe could not organize biology, economics, management, psychology, and sociology in this way. This was the gift of scientific and empirical thought of the East, primarily Islamic Iran, which went there and led to this transformation. In any case, in these areas where we are lagging, we must advance ourselves and innovate; we should not just translate. Translation has very significant harms for us.

Therefore, the comprehensive scientific map is a necessary thing: the place of various sciences, each; the number of students, the type of students, the gender of students - girls, boys - various regions; these must be clarified; we must know what we want to do. These works have indeed started, but you must pursue them with seriousness.

The issue of making research and inventions applicable - which some young people mentioned - is among the things I emphasize. We may conduct research, and in a promotional project, our researcher may reach good places; however, this may not play a role in the country’s situation, in the direction of the country’s growth and development; that is, it may not be able to be converted into national wealth. We must be able to convert our knowledge into national wealth. This requires necessary effort, necessary planning. Then there is one point alongside this - which again falls under the comprehensive scientific map - that we must complete the chain of science and technology, which sometimes has been cut off in some places, so that a real production line can be established and science can achieve its goals from all directions.

And the essence of all these things is your enthusiasm, your efforts, your interest, and the efforts of those involved, which we hope God will assist. God willing, make this effort, and we see that, thanks be to God, the path has begun; this scientific movement has started and, God willing, will reach results.

I am very happy with today’s meeting and hope that, God willing, this meeting will help achieve the lofty goals that our country and nation have.