Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi

42 quotes

As a Burmese politician (b. 1945), Aung San Suu Kyi is known for articulating ideas that others struggled to put into words. Aung San Suu Kyi's observations on Peace are as sharp as their thoughts on Government, revealing genuine breadth of mind. We feature 56 quotes from Aung San Suu Kyi spanning Peace, Government, Politics, Freedom, and Hope, making them one of the most prolific voices in our archive. Readers often gravitate to this one: "Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent."

“I think I should be active politically. Because I look upon myself as a politician. That's not a dirty work you know. Some people think that there are something wrong with politicians. Of course, something wrong with some politicians.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Work

All Quotes by Aung San Suu Kyi

“One wants to be together with one's family. That's what families are about.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Family

“In terms of the history of a far reaching movement, 20 years is not that long.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

History

“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

Freedom

“The democracy process provides for political and social change without violence.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Change

“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Dreams

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

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Courage

“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

Patriotism

“In politics, you also have to be cautiously optimistic.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Politics

“I think I should be active politically. Because I look upon myself as a politician. That's not a dirty work you know. Some people think that there are something wrong with politicians. Of course, something wrong with some politicians.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Work

“A family is very special. So when a family splits up, it's not good, it's never good.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Family

“I think by now I have made it fairly clear that I am not very happy with the word hope. I don't believe in people just hoping.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Hope

“Human beings the world over need freedom and security that they may be able to realize their full potential.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Freedom

“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.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Power

“Since we live in this world, we have to do our best for this world.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Best

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

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Age

“For me, 'revolution' simply means radical change.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Change

“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

Music

“I think sometimes if you are alone, you are freer because your time is your own.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Alone

“Frankly, if you do politics, you should not be thinking about your dignity.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Politics

“One person alone can't do anything as important as bringing genuine democracy to a country.”

— Aung San Suu Kyi

Alone