I can say with absolute confidence that the general public of Burma would be very little affected, if at all, by sanctions. So far, the kind of investments that have come in have benefited the public very little indeed. If you have been in Burma long enough, you will be aware of the fact that a small elite has developed that is extremely wealthy. Perhaps they would be affected, but my concern is not with them but with the general public.

I think by now I have made it fairly clear that I am not very happy with the word hope. I don't believe in people just hoping.

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

I felt that it was my duty not to senselessly waste my time. And since I didn't want to waste my time, I tried to accomplish as much as possible.

Every kindness I received, small or big, convinced me that there could never be enough of it in our world... Kindness can change the lives of people.

A lot of the roads, bridges, railways, and such are built through the use of forced labor, and that is causing the people great suffering. What we put into this in the form of human suffering is not worth what comes out of it.

Human beings the world over need freedom and security that they may be able to realize their full potential.