My attitude is, do as much as I can while I'm free. And if I'm arrested I'll still do as much as I can.

Agreeing to disagree is a prerogative only of those who live under a democratic system.

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

In terms of the history of a far reaching movement, 20 years is not that long.

After I was released, people used to keep asking me, 'what's it like to be free? And it was very difficult for me to answer. I'd always felt free. As far as my state of mind was concerned, I didn't feel any different...People ask me about what sacrifices I've made. I always answer: I've made no sacrifices, I've made choices.

Sometimes I didn't even have enough money to eat. I became so weak from malnourishment that my hair fell out, and I couldn't get out of bed.

The main aim of the [political] dialogue should be to resolve the problems of the nation, not to find who is the winner and who is the loser. That's not what it's all about. It's to try and find an answer that is acceptable to all parties concerned, which would of course require some give and take.