Burmese political culture lacks an understanding of negotiated compromise. We have to build up that kind of culture.

I was given some Harry Potter books by a young friend. I wanted to know why young people liked it so much. And I noted that there were some values in Harry Potter that are common to many books that are popular all over the world. In the end, I think people prefer the good to win, rather than the bad.

It is part of the unceasing human endeavor to prove that the spirit of man can transcend the flaws of his own nature.

When you decide to follow a certain path, you should follow it to the end and not be diverted from it for personal reasons.

You have a great many things to do when you are under house arrest. On the one hand, it is more comfortable than sitting in prison; on the other hand, you have to look after a household, which is strenuous under such circumstances.

The important thing is Burma needs to end the civil war and for this to happen both sides must want to end the war.

It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.