Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi speaks during a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the evacuation of the American military bases in the country, in Tripoli
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi speaking to Libyans in Tripoli. Gadhafi was killed by rebel forces in Libya on Oct. 20. REUTERS

Bringing an end to an eight-month war backed by NATO, revolutionary fighters overran the hometown of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, 69, killing him and stripping his bloodied body for display, Reuters reported.

The confirmation followed conflicting reports following the final assault on Sirte, Gaddafi's last stronghold, about 280 miles east of Tripoli.

Gaddafi, who had ruled Libya for 42 years since coming to power in a military coup, was famously dubbed the mad dog of the Middle East by President Ronald Reagan. The quotes below do little to shirk the moniker.

On Democracy: There is not a state with a democracy except Libya on the whole planet.

On the Use of Force Against Protestors: We have not used any force yet. Our force is the people of Libya. If it gets to the point where we need to use force, we will use it according to international law and the Libyan constitution and laws.

On Devil Worship: All African nations look up to Libya, all the rules of the world look up to Libya. Protestors are serving the devil, they want to humiliate you.

On Women's Rights: There must be a world revolution which puts an end to all materialistic conditions hindering women from performing her natural role in life and driving her to carry out man's duties in order to be equal in rights.

On the Merits of the Tiananmen Massacre: People in front of tanks were crushed. The unity of China was more important than those people on Tiananmen Square. When Tiananmen Square happened, tanks were sent in to deal with them. It's not a joke. I will do whatever it takes to make sure part of the country isn't taken away.

On Israel and Palestine: I am convinced that the [Israel-Palestine] solution is to establish a democratic state for the Jews and the Palestinians, a state that will be called Palestine, Isratine, or whatever they want. This is the fundamental solution, or else the Jews will be annihilated in the future, because the Palestinians have [strategic] depth.

On Defending His Belief that Women Belong in the Home: All right, then nobody can complain if we ask pregnant women to make parachute jumps.

On the Arabs: Libya has had to put up with too much from the Arabs for whom it has poured forth both blood and money.