Quote collection
284 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"After I was released, people used to keep asking me, 'what's it like to be free? And it was very difficult for me to answer. I'd always felt free. As far as my state of mind was concerned, I didn't feel any different...People ask me about what sacrifices I've made. I always answer: I've made no sacrifices, I've made choices."
"It is the love of ordinary people, in Burma, in Japan or anywhere else in the world, for justice and peace and freedom that is our surest defense against the forces of unreason and extremism."
"Absolute peace in our world is an unattainable goal. But it is one towards which we must continue to journey, our eyes fixed on it as a traveller in a desert fixes his eyes on the one guiding star that will lead him to salvation."
"The judiciary must be strengthened and released from political interference."
"Every government must consider the security of the country. That is just part of the responsibilities of any government. But true security can only come out of unity within a country where there are so many ethnic nationalities."
"One person alone can't do anything as important as bringing genuine democracy to a country."
"Fires of suffering and strife are raging around the world."
"I was heartened that people everywhere want certain basic freedoms, even if they live in a totally different cultural environment."
"As we strive to teach others we must have the humility to acknowledge that we too still have much to learn."
"I do not hold to non-violence for moral reasons, but for political and practical reasons."
"It is often in the name of cultural integrity as well as social stability and national security that democratic reforms based on human rights are resisted by authoritarian governments."
"As long as there is no law in Burma, any individual here can be arrested at any time."
"It is man's vision of a world fit for rational, civilized humanity which leads him to dare and to suffer to build societies free from want and fear. Concepts such as truth, justice and compassion cannot be dismissed as trite when these are often the only bulwarks which stand against ruthless power."
"The basis of democratic freedom is freedom of speech."
"In general people feel more relaxed about participating in politics. They aren't frightened as they used to be."
"India and Burma have been close friends since the days we were struggling for independence. And I'm a great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, and all those leaders of India's independence movement. I would like to believe the aspirations and hopes we shared in the past will continue to bind us in the future."
"A revolution simply means great change, significant change, and that's how I'm defining it - great change for the better, brought about through non-violent means."
"I was speaking to a writer the other day and he gave me a valuable piece of advice. He said that you may get to where you want to go quicker through violence, but the healing process takes longer. Whereas if you don't use violence, there is not much healing necessary, so you win in the long run."
"Burmese political culture lacks an understanding of negotiated compromise. We have to build up that kind of culture."
"The terms of the 2008 constitution [which ensures the military will continue to be the ultimate authority] could not benefit Burma in the long run. I think this constitution should be revised."