Quote collection
284 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"The search for scapegoats is essentially an abnegation of responsibility: it indicates an inability to assess honestly and intelligently the true nature of the problems which lie at the root of social and economic difficulties and a lack of resolve in grappling with them."
"My attitude to peace is rather based on the Burmese definition of peace - it really means removing all the negative factors that destroy peace in this world. So peace does not mean just putting an end to violence or to war, but to all other factors that threaten peace, such as discrimination, such as inequality, poverty."
"If you look at the democratic process as a game of chess, there have to be many, many moves before you get to checkmate. And simply because you do not make any checkmate in three moves does not mean it's stalemate. There's a vast difference between no checkmate and stalemate. This is what the democratic process is like."
"There is nothing to be gained by being unnecessarily nasty. Violence begets violence."
"Challenges mean opportunities as well."
"Human beings the world over need freedom and security that they may be able to realize their full potential."
"I always say that one has no right to hope without endeavor."
"I've always thought that the best solution for those who feel helpless is for them to help others."
"The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all."
"Democracy is when the people keep a government in check."
"Since we live in this world, we have to do our best for this world."
"Government leaders are amazing. So often it seems they are the last to know what the people want."
"As I travel through my country, people often ask me how it feels to have been imprisoned in my home -first for six years, then for 19 months. How could I stand the separation from family and friends? It is ironic, I say, that in an authoritarian state it is only the prisoner of conscience who is genuinely free. Yes, we have given up our right to a normal life. But we have stayed true to that most precious part of our humanity-our conscience."
"Human beings want to be free and however long they may agree to stay locked up, to stay oppressed, there will come a time when they say 'That's it.' Suddenly they find themselves doing something that they never would have thought they would be doing, simply because of the human instinct that makes them turn their face towards freedom."
"Fundamental violations of human rights always lead to people feeling less and less human."
"The people of my country want the two freedoms that spell security: freedom from want and freedom from fear."
"The main aim of the [political] dialogue should be to resolve the problems of the nation, not to find who is the winner and who is the loser. That's not what it's all about. It's to try and find an answer that is acceptable to all parties concerned, which would of course require some give and take."
"Saints, it has been said, are the sinners who go on trying. So free men and women are the oppressed who go on trying and who in the process make themselves fit to bear the responsibilities and uphold the disciplines which will maintain a free society."
"Kindness can change the lives of people."
"The Nobel Peace Prize opened up a door in my heart."