Quotes from Aung San Suu Kyi

Moulmein for food, Mandalay for conversation, Rangoon for ostentation

While there is wisdom in refraining from implementing change merely for the sake of change, clinging to old ways solely for the sake of their antiquity is obviously equally futile.

In spite of the open, laughing face that the Burmese presented to the world, the ingrained, if inarticulate, conviction of their own nationhood prevented them from truly admitting those they saw as 'foreign' into their inner sancturns.

But even amid such stirring events, those two scourges of Burmese politics, factionalism and jealousy, began to cast their shadow.

Were she to be allowed to take her rightful place as the elected leader of the Burmese people, I have little doubt that the principles so eloquently expressed in these pages would illuminate her governance.

Regime is made up of people, so I do put faces to regimes and governments, so I feel that all human beings have the right to be given the benefit of the doubt, and they also have to be given the right to try to redeem themselves if they so wish.

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

The judiciary must be strengthened and released from political interference.

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

Assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN isn't going to do anything about improving the lives of people.

I'm rather inclined to liking people.

I am prepared to talk with anyone. I have no personal grudge toward anybody.

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.

A more significant phase should mean serious political dialogue.

A revolution simply means great change, significant change, and that's how I'm defining it - great change for the better, brought about through non-violent means.

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

It would be difficult to dispel ignorance unless there is freedom to pursue the truth unfettered by fear.

Each man has in him the potential to realize the truth through his own will and endeavour and to help others to realize it.

As you look at me and listen to me, please remember the often repeated truth that one prisoner of conscience is one too many.

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

The people of my country want the two freedoms that spell security: freedom from want and freedom from fear.

It is the love of ordinary people, in Burma, in Japan or anywhere else in the world, for justice and peace and freedom that is our surest defense against the forces of unreason and extremism.

More people, especially young people, are realising that if they want change, they've got to go about it themselves - they can't depend on a particular person, i.e. me, to do all the work. They are less easy to fool than they used to be, they now know what's going on all over the world.

I was surprised by the response of young people because there is a perception that those younger than the 1988 generation are not interested in politics.