My attitude to peace is rather based on the Burmese definition of peace - it really means removing all the negative factors that destroy peace in this world. So peace does not mean just putting an end to violence or to war, but to all other factors that threaten peace, such as discrimination, such as inequality, poverty.

It is not power that corrupts but fear.

In general people feel more relaxed about participating in politics. They aren't frightened as they used to be.

I was heartened that people everywhere want certain basic freedoms, even if they live in a totally different cultural environment.

I don't want to see the military falling. I want to see the military rising to dignified heights of professionalism and true patriotism.

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 incorrect to say there have been no reforms at all in Burma; there have of course been reforms, but we still need to do more for the people. To become a democratic society we have to continually be reforming.