--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is always difficult to make the…" description: "\"“It is always difficult to make the transition to a modern world. I moved from the world of faith to the world of reason - from the world of excision a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/ayaan-hirsi-ali-2858_faith_it-is-always-difficult-to-make-the-trans_2737012.jpg" --- # It is always difficult to make the transition to a modern… ![“It is always difficult to make the transition to a modern world. I moved from the world of faith to the world of reason - from the world of excision and forced marriage to the world of secual emancipation. Having made that journey, I know that one of those worlds is simply better than the other…” quote by Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/ayaan-hirsi-ali-2858_faith_it-is-always-difficult-to-make-the-trans_2737012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/ayaan-hirsi-ali-2858_faith_it-is-always-difficult-to-make-the-trans_2737012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b47/ayaan-hirsi-ali-2858_faith_it-is-always-difficult-to-make-the-trans_2737012.jpg) > ““It is always difficult to make the transition to a modern world. I moved from the world of faith to the world of reason - from the world of excision and forced marriage to the world of secual emancipation. Having made that journey, I know that one of those worlds is simply better than the other. Not because of its flashy gadgets, but fundamentally, because of its values. The message of this book, if it must have a message, is that we in the West would be wrong to prolong the pain of that transition unnecessarily, by elevating cultures full of bigotry and hatred toward women to the stature of respectable alternative ways of life.”” [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transition from faith‑based traditions to secular rationalism is painful but ultimately improves women’s rights and societal values. **In simple terms:** Leaving oppressive traditions improves women’s rights. Key Takeaway Support secular, gender‑equal policies. Themes gender equality secularism cultural transition human rights Mood determined hopeful Type political social When to use this quote - policy reform - education programs - NGO advocacy - media campaigns Key Concepts feminism liberalism modernity Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ease painful cultural shifts? - What policies best protect women during transition? A Different Perspective Cultural resistance can slow progress and cause backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Infidel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infidel/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Modern world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-world/) [Muslim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muslim/) ## Related quotes > [The modern age has been characterized by a Promethean spirit, a restless energy that preys on speed records and shortcuts, unmindful of the past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/the-modern-age-has-been-characterized-by-a-promethean-spirit-a/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [The Reagan Administration, generally regarded as having conducted the most successful Transition of modern times, had managed during the election campaign to build bridges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-v-allen/the-reagan-administration-generally-regarded-as-having-conducted-the/) [Richard V. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-v-allen/) > [To me a book is a message from the gods to mankind; or, if not, should never be published at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/to-me-a-book-is-a-message-from-the-gods-to-mankind-or-if-not-should-2/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [To me a book is a message from the gods to mankind; or, if not, should never be published at all. 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It may be a message to us from the dead, from human souls we never saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/there-is-nothing-more-wonderful-than-a-book-it-may-be-a-message-to-us/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [“Having found the book which has a message for us, let us not be guilty of the folly of saying we have read it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-mason/having-found-the-book-which-has-a-message-for-us-let-us-not-be-guilty/) [Charlotte Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-mason/) > [The greatest book is not the one whose message engraves itself on the brain, as a telegraphic message engraves itself on the ticker-tape, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/the-greatest-book-is-not-the-one-whose-message-engraves-itself-on-the/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [“Except a living man there is nothing more wonderful than a book. 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Why was it, then, so much better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/this-was-an-infidel-country-whose-way-of-life-we-muslims-were/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/let-us-fight-to-free-the-world-to-do-away-with-national-barriers-to/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [“The world and reason are not problems; and though we might call them mysterious, this mystery is essential to them, there can be no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/the-world-and-reason-are-not-problems-and-though-we-might-call-them/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [But the world itself has no reason, and I can say so, I who have experienced it all, from the creation to the destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/but-the-world-itself-has-no-reason-and-i-can-say-so-i-who-have/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## More by Ayaan Hirsi Ali > [Women covering their heads is traditional, but now we're seeing more and more women covering themselves from head to toe. 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The Prophet Muhammad attempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/by-declaring-our-prophet-infallible-and-not-permitting-ourselves-to/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [“The will of little girls is stifled by Islam. By the time they menstruate they are rendered voiceless. They are reared to become submissive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/the-will-of-little-girls-is-stifled-by-islam-by-the-time-they/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [I am not against migration. It is simply pragmatic to restrict migration, while at the same time encouraging integration and fighting discrimination. I support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/i-am-not-against-migration-it-is-simply-pragmatic-to-restrict/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [I confront the European elite's self-image as tolerant 'while under their noses women are living like slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/i-confront-the-european-elite-s-self-image-as-tolerant-while-under/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [What matters is abuse, and how it is anchored in a religion that denies women their rights as humans. 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When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is always difficult to make the transition to a modern world. I moved from the world of faith to the world of reason - from the world of excision and forced marriage to the world of secual emancipation. Having made that journey, I know that one of those worlds is simply better than the other. 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