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.

• 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.
• Human beings the world over need freedom and security that they may be able to realize their full potential.
• Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.
• 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.
• If you can make people understand why freedom is so important through the arts, that would be a big help.
• 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.
• Democracy is when the people keep a government in check.
• Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent.
• Every government must consider the security of the country. That is just part of the responsibilities of any government. But true security can only come out of unity within a country where there are so many ethnic nationalities.
• If I was afraid of being killed, I would never speak out against the government.