Top 323 Quotes & Sayings by Aung San Suu Kyi - Page 2

When you decide to follow a certain path, you should follow it to the end and not be diverted from it for personal reasons.

I'm not the only one working for democracy in Burma - there are so many people who have worked for it because they believe that this is the only way we can maintain the dignity of our people.

I learned to work on a computer years before I was placed under house arrest. Fortunately I had two laptops when I was under house arrest - one an Apple and one a different operating system. I was very proud of that because I know how to use both systems.

All military regimes use security as the reason why they should remain in power. It's nothing original.

Fires of suffering and strife are raging around the world.

With the right kind of institutions, starting with the rule of law, Burma could progress very quickly.

I only used a cell phone for the first time after I was released. I had difficulty coping with it because it seemed so small and insubstantial.

I was heartened that people everywhere want certain basic freedoms, even if they live in a totally different cultural environment.

Fundamental violations of human rights always lead to people feeling less and less human.

I felt that it was my duty not to senselessly waste my time. And since I didn't want to waste my time, I tried to accomplish as much as possible.

I think when the people in Burma stop thinking about whether or not they're free, it'll mean that they're free.

I've always tried to explain democracy is not perfect. But it gives you a chance to shape your own destiny.

I think sometimes if you are alone, you are freer because your time is your own.

I am not unaware of the saying that more tears have been shed over wishes granted than wishes denied.

As long as there is no law in Burma, any individual here can be arrested at any time.

Even one voice can be heard loudly all over the world in this day and age.

I think, if you have enough inner resources, then you can live in isolation for long periods of time and not feel diminished by it.

In terms of the history of a far reaching movement, 20 years is not that long.

I would like to have seen my sons growing up.

After all it was my father who founded the Burmese army and I do have a sense of warmth towards the Burmese army.

The best way to help Burma is to empower the people of Burma, to help us have enough self-confidence to obtain what we want for ourselves.

If I was afraid of being killed, I would never speak out against the government.

If you can make people understand why freedom is so important through the arts, that would be a big help.

Suffering degrades, embitters and enrages.

When I was under house arrest, it was the BBC that spoke to me - I listened.

Frankly, if you do politics, you should not be thinking about your dignity.

I don't understand why people say that I am full of courage. I feel terribly nervous.

My attitude is, do as much as I can while I'm free. And if I'm arrested I'll still do as much as I can.

I've always said that the more coordinated the efforts of the international community are, the better it will be for democracy in Burma.

A family is very special. So when a family splits up, it's not good, it's never good.

When the Nobel Committee chose to honor me, the road I had chosen of my own free will became a less lonely path to follow.

I feel that the BBC World Service is not as versatile as it used to be - or perhaps I'm not listening at the right times.

Maybe it is something to do with age, but I have become fonder of poetry than of prose.

I think by now I have made it fairly clear that I am not very happy with the word hope. I don't believe in people just hoping.

I'm rather inclined to liking people.

One wants to be together with one's family. That's what families are about.

No, I was never afraid.

In general people feel more relaxed about participating in politics. They aren't frightened as they used to be.

It doesn't seem right for anybody to get so much attention.

My opinion is the greatest reward that any government could get is the approval of the people. If the people are happy and the people are at peace and the government has done something for them, that's the greatest reward I think any government could hope for.

I don't think I have achieved anything that I can really be proud of.

What does Burma have to give the United States? We can give you the opportunity to engage with people who are ready and willing to change a society.

Of course I regret not having been able to spend time with my family.

All repressive laws must be revoked, and laws introduced to protect the rights of the people.

In politics, you also have to be cautiously optimistic.

War is not the only arena where peace is done to death.

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.

I don't think you can work on feelings in politics, apart from anything else, political change can come very unexpectedly, sometimes overnight when you least expect it.

You cannot compromise unless people talk to you.

It could achieve a lot if everyone in Burma could stop saying something is good if it is not good, or say something is just if it is not just.

People keep saying I've changed. I used to be confrontational. But I'm - I haven't changed. It was - it's just that circumstances have changed.

The judiciary in Burma is not independent. It's widely known, everybody knows that.

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.

I do protect human rights, and I hope I shall always be looked up as a champion of human rights.

One should mature over 20 years.

Since we live in this world, we have to do our best for this world.

I knew some of the army quite well.

I haven't heard any music on the BBC World Service in a long time. Maybe I'm listening at the wrong times. But not one single piece of music.

If I advocate cautious optimism it is not because I do not have faith in the future but because I do not want to encourage blind faith.

What I have experienced is nothing compared to what political prisoners in prisons suffer.