Re: favourite quote
"Enter Islam, and share our joys and our burdens. Pay the tax and live under our protection. If you choose otherwise...then I bring men who desire death as ardently as you desire life." - Khalid bin Waleed - The Sword of Allah
Despite sounding cool as hell, it's actually very deep.
1) The message of dawah is in their (enter Islam), the message of coexistence (the tax) and the message of standing firm to our religion and not submitting to other ways of life (bring men...).
2) It reminds Muslims that they should desire death as ardently as others desire life. That doesn't mean commiting suicide, but means we should give all our material wants and life waiting for death to come and bring us closer to our Lord and creator.
3) It reminds us that Muslims weren't always disorganised, tardy

p) and oppressed people who spent their time arguing amongst themselves (harsh but true). Once we were focused and united, full of love for each other for mankind and justice, and sacrificed ourselves and our wealth to spread the word of Allah.
4) It reminds us that Allah helps those who believe. Khalid bin Walid said these words to the two greatest empires at the time (the Byzantines/Romans and the Persians) who were much stronger and richer than the USA and EU is now, and despite the Muslims being poor Arabs few in number, both mighty empires fell to the Sword of Allah.
Important lessons... and still it sounds so damn cool!