It is essential to institute a legal framework that would ensure justice and improve the quality of life in Burma immediately, because the greatest suffering among the people at the moment is caused by lack of justice and lack of the rule of law.

As you look at me and listen to me, please remember the often repeated truth that one prisoner of conscience is one too many.

I think, if you have enough inner resources, then you can live in isolation for long periods of time and not feel diminished by it.

Government leaders are amazing. So often it seems they are the last to know what the people want.

The quintessential revolution is that of spirit. Without this, the forces which produce the inequalities of the old order will continue to operate.

So, I think that for the authorities to say now that calling for sanctions will prevent dialogue is a ploy to stop us from supporting sanctions. It has to be the other way around: dialogue first, then we stop our call for sanctions, because sanctions make people understand that you cannot exercise repression and at the same time expect international support.

I don't understand why people say that I am full of courage. I feel terribly nervous.