From Dr. Mosi Dorbayani
Gathered by WAALM and Orenda Publications, here are some of his powerful quotes. They reflect deep philosophical insight and a commitment to social justice, creativity, leadership, neuropsychology. and intercultural understanding. The followings are collected from his publications, lectures, and speaking engagements:
Read & Reflect:
“Legacy is not a monument—it’s a bridge.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“If you do what you did, you’ll get what you got.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“The biggest challenge for human being is human being.
How to understand and being understood, how to love and being loved.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“People who feel good, produce well”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Providing constructive feedback on result, is the motivator number one”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Throughout the history of mankind, every leader who preached peace,
was accompanied by armed people.”
Mosi Dorbayani
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“Experience is not what happened to you, it is what you did, when something happened to you.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Understanding is a virtue that makes
peace and prosperity possible.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“In pursuit of cultural diplomacy,
it’s imperative to get the balance between
persuasion and assertion right.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Delivering Message Songs is a great responsibility.
Your voice may become the voice of those voiceless, and your words,
the words of those inarticulate.”
Mosi Dorbayani
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“Culture has a diplomatic role in global governance, and to that end cultural diplomacy is increasingly playing an important role in promoting liberal and democratic values.
It fosters dialogue and democratic participation.
It facilitates human development, expansion of education, human rights,
freedom of thought and expression. It also assists recognition and
understanding of value-oriented causes and missions.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“The core purpose of an argument is to ‘Prove’ a point tactfully.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Doubt is a shadow; you are the Sun.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Confidence isn’t pretending to know everything—it’s embracing growth
with a clear sense of self.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“It is absolutely critical, who your support team is.
Surround yourself with purposeful and disciplined people.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Listen actively and forge strategic dialogue.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Emotional safety allows you to take risks without fear of failure.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Cognitive empathy is a valuable skill that enhances interpersonal effectiveness, but its limitations highlight the importance of balancing it with emotional and compassionate responses.”
Mosi Dorbayani
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“We construct who we are through the stories we tell about ourselves.
Affirming identity means honoring those stories as valid and meaningful.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Teaching must be practice-based, with emphasis on mirroring human relationships.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Living abroad is a unique opportunity to redefine yourself, reinvent your identity,
and build a life that truly aligns with your aspirations.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Your purpose is to find your purpose!”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Living a successful life, which you would love to enjoy, requires you to ask yourself
and answer this crucial question: Do I want to live by ‘Design’ or by ‘Default’?”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Since fulfilling your purpose leads to fulfillment in life—and ultimately the happiness you seek—everything you do should align with that purpose.
Keep your focus sharp and remain committed to your purpose.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Take the time to understand your values—culturally, financially, and within the context of your new environment, i.e. your host country.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“‘Hope’ is situated somewhere between our ‘courage and acceptance’.”
Mosi Dorbayani
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“The distinguishing feature of all great leaders is that they inspire ‘hope’.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“To a ‘hopeful passive person’: hoping is a mechanism for ‘coping’.
Coping with tough times, hardships, people, places, and situations.
To a ‘hopeful active person’: hoping is a mechanism to ‘generate will-power’.
To them, ‘hope’ is an attitude accompanied by active intent.
They use it to reinforce their conviction, determination and decisions.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“To establish co-operative enterprises for economic growth, one needs to
embrace change, and the key is in our quality of thoughts, it is in our
paradigm of thoughts – economic thoughts in particular.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Geography doesn’t mean environmental determinism, and poor countries are not
destined to stay poor to die. Education, Skills, and know-how are the key.
Once we know and acknowledge the causality of being poor, we can apply
knowledge to change the situation.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Intuition has its roots in both ‘past experiences’ and ‘personal values’.
It is important to taking intuition into account simply because it reflects our life-long learning. But should keep in mind that, intuition may not be always the reality and that your "gut feelings"
might be influence by your perceptions from your early childhood.
Reasoning however, often ignores emotional aspects
to a decision and has its roots in 'right here' and 'right now'.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Decisions for complicated issues usually require both intuition and reasoning, but it is highly important to be aware of impulsive reactions to a given complex situation.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“From the way of Samurai warriors I learned:
Matters of great importance should be decided in the span of seven breaths.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“As a leader, you must absorb the consequences of failure, and pass on
the credit for success.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Always look for ‘Opportunities in Failures’ and ‘Possibilities in Difficulties’.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Do not forget that ‘competitive forces’ shape strategies.”
Mosi Dorbayani
"Words can truly impact our lives. They can be used to unite or divide, to diminish and discriminate, or to elevate and encourage tolerance and equality.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Leaders should be mindful of their sayings – as their words can influence the future direction of their society and change the destiny of their people for better or for worse.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“‘No’ is a complete sentence.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Cultural Diplomacy is the art of initiating dialogue through exchange
of ideas and creations, to soften dispute, political disagreement and
military conflict – an artistry to reinforce mutual understanding, foster socio-economic collaboration and ties to advance regional and national interests.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Diplomacy isn’t just about statecraft—it’s about fostering tolerance,
inclusion, and dialogue through shared cultural experiences.”
Mosi Dorbayani
"Peace and happiness can be realized when everyday citizens, educators,
and artists see it upon themselves to act as
informal ambassadors of justice and diplomacy."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Arts and music can bridge divides where formal diplomacy fails."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Arts have the power of healing divisions."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Law must protect cultural identities and traditions, especially in the face of globalization. This should include safeguarding indigenous rights, minority languages, and artistic expressions."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Music, film, and literature are not just entertainment—they’re tools for emotional
regulation and mental health."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Cultural mediums like music or movies can help individuals manage stress,
navigate emotions, and find happiness.”
Mosi Dorbayani
"Traditional neuroscience often overlooks cultural diversity, which is
essential for understanding cognition and behavior."
Mosi Dorbayani
“Knowing how neuroscience and culture interact can help explain
how people respond to one another in various social settings.”
Mosi Dorbayani
"Understanding brain-culture interaction can foster mutual
understanding and societal progress respectively."
Mosi Dorbayani
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“Strategy must be inclusive, adaptive, and culturally intelligent.
It should not only serve profit, but also elevate people and societies.”
Mosi Dorbayani
"A firm should integrate social responsibility into their core strategy—not as charity,
but as a driver of long-term value."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Creative Industries are Strategic Assets. Their outputs are
strategic mechanisms for social impact."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Focus on developing people, not just systems."
Mosi Dorbayani
“Authoring a scientific piece is not just presenting results, it is
telling the story of a curious mind.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“By scanning the environment rigorously, aligning strategy with
institutional realities, building resilient, and advocacy-driven organizations,
leaders can navigate uncertainty with confidence and clarity.
The best course of action is not to retreat from complexity, but to
engage with it—strategically, intelligently, and proactively.”
Mosi Dorbayani
"I treat education not just as a system, but as a transformative force—one that
can shape minds, bridge cultures, and build a more just and empathetic world."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Follow your heart, but take your logic with you too."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Institutions and firms which emphasize on grassroots engagement and
intercultural dialogue over top-down governance are likely more democratic."
Mosi Dorbayani
"My political philosophy is less about partisan alignment and
more about global citizenship, cultural empathy, and human dignity."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Don't just talk about change; build the infrastructure to make it happen."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Love, is not just emotional—it’s reverent, intentional, and
sustained by mutual care."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Tolerance, understanding, dialogue, unity and shared values must be
taught to be exercised systematically by all ages, and institutionally
at every level—but far from any political or religious indoctrination.”
Mosi Dorbayani
"Perhaps by making Human Rights education mandatory, we can ensure that tolerance is not just moral, but legal and civic."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Literature is a living force—a way to connect, heal, and elevate humanity."
Mosi Dorbayani
"Arts can transcend political boundaries, offering shared narratives
that promote understanding and unity."
Mosi Dorbayani
“Power is in sharing”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Empowerment is giving freedom with fences.”
Mosi Dorbayani
“Your every ‘Yes’ or “No’, has a cost. Just make sure they don’t cost your well-being.”
Mosi Dorbayani
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