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.

It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.

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.

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.

War is not the only arena where peace is done to death.

Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.

What does Burma have to give the United States? We can give you the opportunity to engage with people who are ready and willing to change a society.

Maybe it is something to do with age, but I have become fonder of poetry than of prose.

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.

The value systems of those with access to power and of those far removed from such access cannot be the same. The viewpoint of the privileged is unlike that of the underprivileged.

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've always tried to explain democracy is not perfect. But it gives you a chance to shape your own destiny.

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

If I advocate cautious optimism it is not because I do not have faith in the future but because I do not want to encourage blind faith.

Humor is one of the best ingredients of survival.