Aung San Suu Kyi Quotes & Sayings

We're nowhere near democracy. I've been released, that's all. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The people have given me their support; they have given me their trust and confidence. My colleagues have suffered a lot in order to give me support. I do not look upon my life as a sacrifice at all. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The history of the world shows that peoples and societies do not have to pass through a fixed series of stages in the course of development. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Unless there is free and fair competition, there can't be healthy economic development. And what we have in Burma now is not an open-market economy that allows free and fair competition, but a form of colonialism makes a few people very, very wealthy. It's what you would crony capitalism. — Aung San Suu Kyi

This was the way I was brought up to think of politics, that politics was to do with ethics, it was to do with responsibility, it was to do with service, so I think I was conditioned to think like that, and I'm too old to change now. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Leaders of political parties need to keep in contact with the people; that's what it's all about. If violence were to erupt, I am fairly confident that we could control our people. Whether or not the authorities can control theirs is another matter altogether. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Fear is a habit; I am not afraid. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear — Aung San Suu Kyi

Sanctions and boycotts would be tied to serious political dialogue. — Aung San Suu Kyi

You should never let your fears prevent you from doing what you know is right. — Aung San Suu Kyi

It is his capacity for self-improvement and self-redemption which most distinguishes man from the mere brute. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Fear is not the natural state of civilized people. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I don't think of myself as unbreakable. Perhaps I'm just rather flexible and adaptable. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I was surprised by the response of young people because there is a perception that those younger than the 1988 generation are not interested in politics. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Peace, development, and justice are all connected to each other. We cannot talk about economic development without talking about peace. How can we expect economic development in a battlefield? — Aung San Suu Kyi

The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all. — Aung San Suu Kyi

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. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Saints, it has been said, are the sinners who go on trying. So free men and women are the oppressed who go on trying and who in the process make themselves fit to bear the responsibilities and uphold the disciplines which will maintain a free society. — Aung San Suu Kyi

We always think that everybody can do a little bit more, if not a lot more. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I haven't heard any music on the BBC World Service in a long time. Maybe I'm listening at the wrong times. But not one single piece of music. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I've never thought of myself as being particularly brave - I used to be frightened of the dark when I was small. And I'm not very good with dead rats and things like that. But I face what has to be faced and I hope as best as I'm able. — Aung San Suu Kyi

When you decide to follow a certain path, you should follow it to the end and not be diverted from it for personal reasons. — Aung San Suu Kyi

We will surely get to our destination if we join hands. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I don't want to see the military falling. I want to see the military rising to dignified heights of professionalism and true patriotism. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Government leaders are amazing. So often it seems they are the last to know what the people want. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I learned to work on a computer years before I was placed under house arrest. Fortunately I had two laptops when I was under house arrest - one an Apple and one a different operating system. I was very proud of that because I know how to use both systems. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I worry that even those who want to reform are not quite sure how to go about it. There is so much to be done. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Some of the best indicators of a country developing along the right lines are healthy mothers giving birth to healthy children who are assured of good care and a sound education that will enable them to face the challenges of a changing world. — Aung San Suu Kyi

If I were the blushing kind, I would blush to be called a hero. — Aung San Suu Kyi

For me, 'revolution' simply means radical change. — Aung San Suu Kyi

If you're feeling helpless, help someone. — Aung San Suu Kyi

One should mature over 20 years. — Aung San Suu Kyi

You have a great many things to do when you are under house arrest. On the one hand, it is more comfortable than sitting in prison; on the other hand, you have to look after a household, which is strenuous under such circumstances. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I don't understand why people say that I am full of courage. I feel terribly nervous. — Aung San Suu Kyi

There is a time to be quiet and a time to talk. — Aung San Suu Kyi

In terms of the history of a far reaching movement, 20 years is not that long. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I was a bit of a coward when I was small. I was terribly frightened of the dark. — Aung San Suu Kyi

We have to choose between dialogue and utter devastation. — Aung San Suu Kyi

At this age, I should be leading a quiet life. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The true measure of the justice of a system is the amount of protection it guarantees to the weakest. — Aung San Suu Kyi

It could achieve a lot if everyone in Burma could stop saying something is good if it is not good, or say something is just if it is not just. — Aung San Suu Kyi

It's very difficult to have any faith in the sincerity of the SLORC about stamping out drug production if they find it so easy to forgive a drug baron whom at one time they said they would never, never forgive and would never, never regard as anything but a drug runner. The SLORC is far more aggressive in its attitude toward the National League for Democracy than against drug traffickers. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Books always help. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I felt that it was my duty not to senselessly waste my time. And since I didn't want to waste my time, I tried to accomplish as much as possible. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Please use your liberty to promote ours — Aung San Suu Kyi

If you look at the democratic process as a game of chess, there have to be many, many moves before you get to checkmate. And simply because you do not make any checkmate in three moves does not mean it's stalemate. There's a vast difference between no checkmate and stalemate. This is what the democratic process is like. — Aung San Suu Kyi

It cannot be doubted that in most countries today women, in comparison to men, still remain underprivileged. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I don't think you can work on feelings in politics, apart from anything else, political change can come very unexpectedly, sometimes overnight when you least expect it. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Absolute peace in our world is an unattainable goal. But it is one towards which we must continue to journey, our eyes fixed on it as a traveller in a desert fixes his eyes on the one guiding star that will lead him to salvation. — Aung San Suu Kyi

When we think of the state of the economy, we are not thinking in terms of money flow. We are thinking in terms of the effect on everyday lives of people. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Investment that only goes to enrich an already wealthy elite bent on monopolizing both economic and political power cannot contribute toward egalite and justice
the foundation stones for a sound democracy. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The act of willingly subtracting from one's own limited store of the good and the agreeable for the sake of adding to that of others reflects the understanding that individual happiness needs a base broader than the mere satisfaction of selfish passions. From there, it is not such a large step to the realization that respecting the susceptibilities and rights of others is as important as defending one's own susceptibilities and rights if civilized society is to be safeguarded. — Aung San Suu Kyi

In the end, I think people prefer the good to win rather than the bad. — Aung San Suu Kyi

If you want to bring an end to long-standing conflict, you have to be prepared to compromise. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Democracy acknowledges the right to differ as well as the duty to settle differences peacefully. Authoritarian governments see criticism of their actions and doctrines as a challenge to combat. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The greatest gift for an individual or a nation ... was abhaya, fearlessness, not merely bodily courage but absence of fear from the mind. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Once serious political dialogue has begun, the international community can assume that we have achieved genuine progress along the road to real democratisation. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Democracy is when the people keep a government in check. — Aung San Suu Kyi

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. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Humor is one of the best ingredients of survival. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I think when the people in Burma stop thinking about whether or not they're free, it'll mean that they're free. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Each man has in him the potential to realize the truth through his own will and endeavour and to help others to realize it. — Aung San Suu Kyi

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

Whatever help we may want from the international community now or in the future, we want to make sure that this help is tailored to help our people to help themselves. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Solidarity is a beautiful word because it means that you reach out to those who are different from you and who have to cope with different circumstances because we recognize that we all share the same human needs and same values. It is the values that count most of all. The value of freedom of thought, the value of democratic practices, the value of respect for your fellow human beings. — Aung San Suu Kyi

A family is very special. So when a family splits up, it's not good, it's never good. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Regime is made up of people, so I do put faces to regimes and governments, so I feel that all human beings have the right to be given the benefit of the doubt, and they also have to be given the right to try to redeem themselves if they so wish. — Aung San Suu Kyi

There is so much that we need to do for our country. I don't think that we can afford to wait. — Aung San Suu Kyi

We achieve everything by our efforts alone. Our fate is not decided by an almighty God. We decide our own fate by our actions. You have to gain mystery over yourself. It is not a matter of sitting back and accepting. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Challenges mean opportunities as well. — Aung San Suu Kyi

A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help to preserve man's self-respect and inherent human dignity. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Please use your freedom to promote ours. — Aung San Suu Kyi

European and American companies companies do create jobs for some people but what they're mainly going to do is make an already wealthy elite wealthier, and increase its greed and strong desire to hang on to power. So immediately and in the long run, these companies - harm the democratic process a great deal. — Aung San Suu Kyi

It doesn't seem right for anybody to get so much attention. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I feel that the BBC World Service is not as versatile as it used to be - or perhaps I'm not listening at the right times. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The provision of basic material needs is not sufficient to make minority groups and indigenous peoples feel they are truly part of the greater national entity. For that they have to be confident that they too have an active role to play in shaping the destiny of the state that demands their allegiance. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I've always been strongly on the side of non-violence. — Aung San Suu Kyi

If you choose to do something, then you shouldn't say it's a sacrifice, because nobody forced you to do it. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I saw many aspects of the country which I needed to see in order that I might know what we need to do. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I still oppose "Visit Myanmar Year," and I would ask tourists to stay away. Burma is not going to run away. They should come back to Burma at a time when it is a democratic society where people are secure - where there is justice, where there is rule of law. They'll have a much better time. And they can travel around Burma with a clear conscience. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I don't believe in people just hoping. We work for what we want. I always say that one has no right to hope without endeavor, so we work to try and bring about the situation that is necessary for the country, and we are confident that we will get to the negotiation table at one time or another. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Religion is about increasing peace and harmony in the world ... People of all different religions should be given the opportunity to pursue good in their own way. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Every kindness I received, small or big, convinced me that there could never be enough of it in the world. Kindness, can change the lives of people. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps the more precious thing is the courage acquired through endeavor, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate one's actions, courage that could be described as 'grace under pressure'- grace which is renewed repeatedly in the face of harsh, unremitting pressure. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The basis of democratic freedom is freedom of speech. — Aung San Suu Kyi

As we strive to teach others we must have the humility to acknowledge that we too still have much to learn. — Aung San Suu Kyi

A revolution simply means great change, significant change, and that's how I'm defining it - great change for the better, brought about through non-violent means. — Aung San Suu Kyi

By helping others, you will learn how to help yourselves. — Aung San Suu Kyi

I only used a cell phone for the first time after I was released. I had difficulty coping with it because it seemed so small and insubstantial. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The people of my country want the two freedoms that spell security: freedom from want and freedom from fear. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The best way to deal with AIDS is through education. So we need a really widespread AIDS education program. In fact, what we need in Burma is education of all kinds - political, economic, and medical. AIDS education would be just part of a whole program for education, which is so badly needed in our country. — Aung San Suu Kyi

My attitude is, do as much as I can while I'm free. And if I'm arrested I'll still do as much as I can. — Aung San Suu Kyi

No, I was never afraid. — Aung San Suu Kyi

One prisoner of conscience is one too many. — Aung San Suu Kyi

The French say that to part is to die a little. To be forgotten too is to die a little. It is to lose some of the links that anchor us to the rest of humanity. — Aung San Suu Kyi

That's not how politics works - sometimes things move in a rather imperceptible way. There are no fireworks, and then comes a time when change comes unexpectedly. Sometimes change comes with a lot of fireworks, but not always. — Aung San Suu Kyi

Human beings want to be free and however long they may agree to stay locked up, to stay oppressed, there will come a time when they say 'That's it.' Suddenly they find themselves doing something that they never would have thought they would be doing, simply because of the human instinct that makes them turn their face towards freedom. — Aung San Suu Kyi

In societies where men are truly confident of their own worth, women are not merely tolerated but valued.
(From a speech read on video on August 31, 1995 before the NGO Forum on Women, Beijing, China) — Aung San Suu Kyi

I do not believe that I'm sacrificing, in fact I feel very uneasy when others used the word sacrifice to describe my life. It sounds like I'm demanding returns for my investments. I chose to walk on this journey, because I solely believed in it and wholeheartedly decided to do so, and I'm willing and able to pay for the consequences ... — Aung San Suu Kyi