"Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity."
"The basic policy of the British Government was that since the majority of people in Northern Ireland wished to remain in the United Kingdom, that was that. We asked what would happen if the majority wanted something else, if the majority wanted to see Irish unity."
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More quotes by John Hume
"My father was unemployed and I was the eldest of seven children. We were very poor. And when you ask how did we support ourselves, the only funding that we had was unemployment payments."
"I never thought in terms of being a leader. I thought very simply in terms of helping people."
"In my opinion, what changed the situation eventually - and, of course, it took a lot of time to change it, things like that don't change in a week or a fortnight - was the new educational system."
"The basis of peace and stability, in any society, has to be the fullest respect for the human rights of all its people."
"If the word 'No' was removed from the English language, Ian Paisley would be speechless."