Quotes from Nicola Sturgeon

An independent Scotland could afford pensions full stop - after all, it is our taxes and national insurance contributions that fund them now.

The teachers who taught me at Dreghorn Primary and Greenwood Academy were fantastic.

So after a lovely family Xmas day, this 80s teen is off to bed feeling a bit sad, but listening to this masterpiece [George Michael: I can't make you love me].

If you have a Tory government at Westminster that takes us out of Europe against our will, there may be people in Scotland who think, 'You know what, we might be better off independent.'

We've chosen to stay part of the Westminster system, but we don't want to be a forgotten, sidelined part of it.

People don't want to go back to the days, pre-referendum, when the Westminster establishment sidelined and ignored Scotland. They want Scotland's voice to be heard.

I've not hidden and I'll never hide the fact that I want Scotland to be an independent country. But as long as we're part of the Westminster system, it's really important to people in Scotland that we get good decisions coming out of Westminster. So we've got a vested interest in being a constructive participant.

Let us put the normal divisions of politics aside. Let us come together as one country; let us seize this historic moment to shift the balance of power from the corridors of Westminster to the streets and communities of Scotland.

The U.K.'s debt belongs legally to Westminster, so Scotland, by definition, can't default on it.

Too often in the past, Scotland has been sidelined and ignored in the Westminster corridors of power, but that doesn't have to be the case anymore.

The truth of the matter is that countries the world over have deficits. Let us remember this about Scotland's deficit: it was not created in an independent Scotland; it was created on Westminster's watch.

We will never vote for the renewal of Trident; that's a decision which will fall to be made in the next Westminster parliament. We will never vote for that.

There can be no greater privilege in life than to be chosen to lead your country.

Personally, I can think of no greater privilege than to lead the party I joined when I was just 16.

I am privileged to count many Muslims among my friends - some are amongst my closest friends.

At these big set-piece events like the leaders' debates, that exterior of calm and serenity is nothing compared to what's going on inside most of the time.

It is one of the little known facts about modern Scottish politics that it is not quite as cut-throat as people think it is.

I was studious and bookish. Not just as a child but also as a teenager. I took myself too seriously.

Scotland almost invented the modern world. I mean, all of these televisions, telephones, penicillin, we all - all of these things were invented in Scotland.

If your pal or neighbour is in the SNP, you're more likely to listen to them than if you just turn on the telly and see me or Alex. The growth of membership is building a politically engaged community base that hasn't been there in my lifetime.

Clearly, any issues about breaching of expenses rules should be properly investigated.

Equality and prosperity shouldn't be seen as enemies of each other, but as partners. One reinforces the other.

I thought if people were going to talk about what I wear, wouldn't it be good if they were talking about who designed it, who made it and if that's a Scottish company, so teaming up with Totty Rocks has been fantastic.

When I was growing up, I was lucky to benefit from a first class education.