It enables me to go to bed with an enriching feeling in my soul and the belief that I am changing myself.

I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.

We don't have to be victims of our past, that we can let go of our bitterness, and that all of us can achieve greatness.

Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.

If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don't ask for observers from Africa or from Asia. But when we have elections, they want observers.

We need to exert ourselves that much more, and break out of the vicious cycle of dependence imposed on us by the financially powerful: those in command of immense market power and those who dare to fashion the world in their own image.

You encourage people by seeing the good in them.