The New Republic (22 February 1999)
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On the one hand, the ruling Islamic regime has succeeded in completely repressing Iranian women. Women are forbidden to go out in public unless they are covered by clothing that conceals everything but their hands and faces. At all government institutions, universities, and airports, there are separate entrances for women, where they are searched for lipstick and other weapons of mass destruction. ... Yet, while these measures are meant to render women invisible and powerless, they are paradoxically making women tremendously visible and powerful.

— Azar Nafisi

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "On the one hand, the ruling Islamic regime has succeeded in completely repressing Iranian women. Women are forbidden to go out in public unless they are covered by clothing that conceals everything but their hands and faces. At all government institutions, universities, and airports, there are separate entrances for women, where they are searched for lipstick and other weapons of mass destruction. ... Yet, while these measures are meant to render women invisible and powerless, they are paradoxically making women tremendously visible and powerful." in the context of "The New Republic (22 February 1999)" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Azar Nafisi" (Quotes) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Azar Nafisi

About Azar Nafisi

Azar Nafisi, Ph.D. (Persian: آذر نفیسی) (born December 1, 1955) is an Iranian professor and writer who currently resides in the United States.