In the land of my birth I cannot vote, whereas a young person of eighteen can vote. And why? Because he or she possesses that wonderful biological attribute - a white skin.

The abolition of the death penalty is making us a civilized society. It shows we actually do mean business when we say we have reverence for life.

When you nurse a grudge it is not good for your health.

I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.

No peace is impossible when people are determined to achieve it

Twenty-five years ago people could be excused for not knowing much, or doing much, about climate change. Today we have no excuse. No more can it be dismissed as science fiction; we are already feeling the effects.

In many ways, when you're a Nobel peace laureate, you have an obligation to humankind, to society.