It is incorrect to say there have been no reforms at all in Burma; there have of course been reforms, but we still need to do more for the people. To become a democratic society we have to continually be reforming.

Fear is not the natural state of civilized people.

The judiciary must be strengthened and released from political interference.

I've always said that the most important thing is job creation. Jobs will earn people money and build self-confidence.

As the twentieth century draws to a close it has become obvious that material yardsticks alone cannot serve as an adequate measure of human well-being. Even as basic an issue as poverty has to be re-examined to take into account the psychological sense of deprivation that makes people feel poor.

It is not enough to sit and hope. You have to work in order to realize your hopes.

I was a prisoner, but I always felt free because I was not frightened So for me real freedom is freedom from fear.