The people of my country want the two freedoms that spell security: freedom from want and freedom from fear.

When I was under house arrest, it was the BBC that spoke to me - I listened.

I've always tried to explain democracy is not perfect. But it gives you a chance to shape your own destiny.

In Burma, we need to improve education in the country - not only primary education, but secondary and tertiary education. Our education system is very very bad. But, of course, if you look at primary education, we have to think in terms of early childhood development that's going back to before the child is born - making sure the mother is well nourished and the child is properly nurtured.

My top priority is for people to understand that they have the power to change things themselves.

All right, your knees may be knocking but that shouldn't prevent you from going ahead and doing what you need to do.

Lasting solutions are always difficult to come to. But they will have to persevere. I've been repeating ad nauseam that we in Burma we are weak with regard to the culture of negotiated compromises, that we have to develop the ability to achieve such compromises.