Quotes By Aung San Suu Kyi

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The democracy process provides for political and social change without violence.

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

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.

It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.

I don't believe in professional dissidents. I think it's just a phase, like adolescence.

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'm feeling a little delicate.

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.

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.

The judiciary must be strengthened and released from political interference.

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

The history of the world shows that peoples and societies do not have to pass through a fixed series of stages in the course of development.

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

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

At this age, I should be leading a quiet life.

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.

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

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

If you do nothing you get nothing.

I look forward to trying the Internet.

Suffering degrades, embitters and enrages.

I wish people wouldn't think of me as a saint - unless they agree with the definition of a saint that a saint's a sinner who goes on trying.

Humor is one of the best ingredients of survival.

Democracy is when the people keep a government in check.