Imam on various occasions in this regard said as following:
Those who seek to train and educate others should themselves be purified. They should be purged if they are to rule human beings in order to remain immune from rebellions and satanic deeds. They have to purge themselves. The commands of the Prophet is to serve this purpose. Everybody should purge themselves. This task is more vital and important for officials, rulers, presidents and leaders than it is for ordinary people. (June 2, 1981)
The rebellious motivations of the self (inner desires) will annihilate mankind. Any step taken towards education and training should be accompanied by steps in bringing selfish desires under full control. (July 7, 1979)
If knowledge is not mingled with spiritual purification and the training of ethics, the owner of knowledge will cause more harm to the people than a person who has no knowledge. This person may use his or her knowledge as a sword to cut off the roots of a country. (June 28, 1979)
All problems and differences of humanity will be resolved if the human being's selfishness and animal desires are purified, trained and tamed. (June 2, 1981)
All differences and problems of humanity stem from the rebellion of selfish desires. (June 2, 1981)
Those seeking to train and educate others in the world should themselves be purified and purged before they carry out their tasks. (June 2, 1981)
Imam Khomeini on an other occasion said:
You will face rebellious acts of your selfish desires unless you are purified and purged. Knowledge and science will inflict harm if you are not purified. In that case, the most dangerous matter for you will be accepting a social position which will annihilate you in both worlds. You should purify yourself and bring your selfish desires under full control before taking positions. (June 2, 1981)
It is impossible to learn the Book and Wisdom in the absence of purging the self. We should purify ourselves from all sorts of impurities including inner desires and selfishness. (June 2, 1981)
All differences arising between human beings such as those of monarchs and wielders of power are rooted in the rebellious motivations of their selfish desires. (June 2, 1981)
Read more: