As I travel through my country, people often ask me how it feels to have been imprisoned in my home -first for six years, then for 19 months. How could I stand the separation from family and friends? It is ironic, I say, that in an authoritarian state it is only the prisoner of conscience who is genuinely free. Yes, we have given up our right to a normal life. But we have stayed true to that most precious part of our humanity-our conscience.

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

The democracy process provides for political and social change without violence.

To be kind is to respond with sensitivity and human warmth to the hopes and needs of others. Even the briefest touch of kindness can lighten a heavy heart. Kindness can change the lives of people.

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

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.

In Burma, our main goal in amending the constitution is not to phase out the military from politics. Our main point is to put the constitution in line with international standards and norms.