Top 44 Quotes & Sayings by Corazon Aquino

I don't have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It's always the people who make things happen.

It is true you cannot eat freedom and you cannot power machinery with democracy. But then neither can political prisoners turn on the light in the cells of a dictatorship.

I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life.

Reconciliation should be accompanied by justice, otherwise it will not last. While we all hope for peace it shouldn't be peace at any cost but peace based on principle, on justice.

When you restore democracy, you cannot say that only those who worked for the restoration of democracy will be allowed to use the privileges of a democracy.

It wasn't until we got over the self pity that we were able to accept suffering as apart of our life with Christ. A man or woman reaches this plane only when he or she ceases to be the hero.

We Filipinos have to exercise the necessary pressure on Marcos. But it would certainly help our cause if the Americans would stop supporting Mr. Marcos.

You, the foreign media, have been the companion of my people in its long and painful journey to freedom.

As I came to power peacefully, so shall I keep it.

I am not embarrassed to tell you that I believe in miracles.

I guess my religious faith sustained me more than anything else. Family is also very important. If I didn't have children, it would have been too difficult. Even if you are strong, you still need people who would support you all the way.

I know my limitations, and I don't like politics. I was only involved because of my husband.

It is not I who have been consigned to the bedroom of history.

All the world wondered as they witnessed... a people lift themselves from humiliation to the greatest pride.

I cannot think of a tactical alliance with the Left because I represent the idea that there is a peaceful, nonviolent way to dislodge a dictatorship... A tactical Left alliance damages my argument. If I succeed with them, we will never know if peace can really produce freedom.

The nation was awakened by that deafening shot.

The media's power is frail. Without the people's support, it can be shut off with the ease of turning a light switch.

Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things - with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope.

National leaders who find themselves wilting under the withering criticisms by members of the media, would do well not to take such criticism personally but to regard the media as their allies in keeping the government clean and honest, its services.

Freedom of expression - in particular, freedom of the press - guarantees popular participation in the decisions and actions of government, and popular participation is the essence of our democracy.

One must be frank to be relevant.

It's very simple, I just tell my sad story, and people weep.

I just do whatever it is that I believe I should do, regardless of the risks to my life.

I've reached a point in life where it's no longer necessary to try to impress. If they like me the way I am, that's good. If they don't, that's too bad.

If I fail to remove Marcos and vindicate the people's verdict by peaceful, nonviolent action, my methods will be discredited. And if anger persists, I will be marginalized, and others will take over leadership of the movement.

I acknowledged that I owed my presidency to People Power. I resolved during my presidency that I would in turn empower the people.

You have spent many lives and much treasure to bring freedom to many lands that were reluctant to receive it. And here you have a people who won it by themselves and need only the help to preserve it.

I believe that during these times, we should not forget that many sacrificed to regain our democracy. We cannot just keep quiet because that is what happened during martial law. Our dictator then believed that he can do anything to keep himself in power.

I was very privileged and really blessed with so many material and spiritual gifts that I should give back, ... I should do something for my people, but ... it's not just in politics that you can be a servant of the people, you can do it in so many other ways.

National leaders who find themselves wilting under the withering criticisms by members of the media, would do well not to take such criticism personally but to regard the media as their allies in keeping the government clean and honest, its services

I am not an icon of democracy. You are all, collectively, the icon of democracy.

As our country bled . . . its leader's wife came to this podium piously to call for a new human order, this when thousands of Filipinos were political prisoners.

Let's continue to pray for each other and ask the Lord to bring us closer to each other. He (God) will bring us not only 79 votes, but more than 79 (votes).

I know there isn't anything I can do that will please everybody. But if I have done according to my beliefs, I sleep very very well.

I believe that during these times, we should not forget that many sacrificed to regain our democracy.

The politicians think that I have not included enough of them; the nonpoliticians think that I have gone back to the old ways; and the mass public groups think I have forgotten them.

It's not just in politics that you can be a servant of the people, you can do it in so many other ways.

The only thing I can really offer the Filipino people is my sincerity.

I would like to ask the many Filipino people to pray together, to help each other so that we will be able to preserve the democracy we restored 20 years ago.

There is much that women can bring into politics that would make our world a kinder, gentler place for humanity to thrive in.

My biggest disappointment was, of course, the coup attempts, ... The economy was proceeding very well, but in 1989 we had the most serious coup attempt and ... many of the investors who were set to come here had to tell me that they chose to go to other countries because of the uncertainty brought about by (the coup attempt.) If that had not happened, I'm sure our economy would just be booming today.

Keep inviolate an area of light and peace within you.

The government cannot do everything all at once. It can't wave a magic wand and meet everyone's demands simultaneously.

I salute the 51 congressmen who voted (for the impeachment complaints.) It's not over yet. There will always be hope.