The Leader of the Revolution narrates a memory, from the days of preparation before Imam Khomeini's return to Iran:
Before the return of Imam Khomeini, my friends and I met, saying: “Well, tomorrow Imam is coming to Tehran. We need to get ready and organize for Imam’s bayt (place). Every one of us should accept a specific responsibility."--Everybody decided to gather and think about this.
In the meeting, I said: “I will be the tea man." My friends laughed, asking: “Are you joking?” I said: “No, I mean it, seriously. Actually because I like tea, I am also good at making it. Anyway, Imam’s place will need a tea man: I will be that tea man."
These words took our session in a good direction. There is a big difference if we, instead, decide to choose the head of an organization first. Everybody might believe he is the best person for the highest position. In such a situation, a quarrel might rise.
In this quarrel, I insisted, by saying “That's the only job I will accept; I want to be the tea man." Everyone else offered to carry out a responsibility likewise and order was established.
July 29, 1993