Quotes from Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

I'm not talking about what you hear from 5 per cent of the population on the radio, in the papers. I don't pay attention to it. I travel around the country. I'm happy I have a good relationship with the people.

My calling was first of all to ensure there was peace in the country, because we could easily have gone back to war. In the midst of the country, there were still warlords; there were many child soldiers who had never gone to school - they were part of the social setting - compromises had to be made.

I would like to make sure, first of all, that our women in the informal sector - I mean, these are the farmers and the traders; many of them are not educated, many of them lacking literacy - be able to give them better working conditions. And we've done a lot to be able to achieve that.

I don't think people understand the awesomeness of the destruction of this country - its institutions, its infrastructure, its law, its morals.

I underestimated the low level of capacity. I also underestimated the cultural roots of corruption.

To girls and women everywhere, I issue a simple invitation. My sisters, my daughters, my friends; find your voice

As more men become more educated and women get educated, the value system has to be more enhanced and the respect for human dignity and human life is made better.

I just think that unless you have that cohesiveness in the family unit, the male character tends to become very dominant, repressive and insensitive. So much of this comes also from a lack of education.

I work hard, I work late, I have nothing on my conscience. When I go to bed, I sleep.

Women work harder. And women are more honest; they have less reasons to be corrupt.

In Liberia, the big challenge that remains for us is job creation. We want young people to work or go to school. That is our main preoccupation right now.

We have to overcome the practice of male domination - even though it's changing, and changing in Liberia quite drastically.

If your dreams don't scare you, you aren't dreaming big enough.

I think the majority of the Liberian people want peace.

Future generations will judge us not by what we say, but what we do.