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147 Aung San Suu Kyi Quotes That Empower You

Famous As: Former State Counsellor of Myanmar (2016 - 2021) and Winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize
Born On: June 19, 1945
Born In: Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)
Age: 78 Years
Aung San Suu Kyi is a celebrated Burmese politician, author and diplomat. She is the leader of the National League for Democracy and the first State Counsellor, a position equivalent to Prime Minister. She is the first female to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, the Minister of the President's Office and the Minister of Electric Power and Energy in Htin Kyaw’s cabinet. She also worked for the United Nations for a short period before being nominated as the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. She was kept under house arrest by the ruling military junta for almost 15 years from 1989 to 2010, and became one of the world's most prominent political prisoners. She was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, Rafto Prize, Jawaharlal Nehru Award, Sakharov Prize, Order of Australia, US Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom. An honorary member of Nelson Mandela’s elders, Aung San Suu Kyi went on to receive citizenship from various countries. We have collected her thoughts and sayings from her speeches, writings and general life. Here is a collection of Aung San Suu Kyi quotes on tyranny, freedom, equality, peace, harmony, sovereignty and democracy.
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The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear

The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear

Aung San Suu Kyi
One should mature over 20 years.

One should mature over 20 years.

Aung San Suu Kyi
I look forward to trying the Internet.

I look forward to trying the Internet.

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
A more significant phase should mean serious political dialogue.

A more significant phase should mean serious political dialogue.

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.

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
I knew some of the army quite well.

I knew some of the army quite well.

Aung San Suu Kyi
In general people feel more relaxed about participating in politics. They aren't frightened as they used to be.

In general people feel more relaxed about participating in politics. They aren't frightened as they used to be.

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

It doesn't seem right for anybody to get so much attention.

Aung San Suu Kyi
Of course I regret not having been able to spend time with my family.

Of course I regret not having been able to spend time with my family.

Aung San Suu Kyi
I think I was the healthiest prisoner of conscience in the world.

I think I was the healthiest prisoner of conscience in the world.

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
By helping others, you will learn how to help yourselves.

By helping others, you will learn how to help yourselves.

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

Humor is one of the best ingredients of survival.

Aung San Suu Kyi
I do protect human rights, and I hope I shall always be looked up as a champion of human rights.

I do protect human rights, and I hope I shall always be looked up as a champion of human rights.

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.

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

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
If you want to bring an end to long-standing conflict, you have to be prepared to compromise.

If you want to bring an end to long-standing conflict, you have to be prepared to compromise.

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.

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

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

Aung San Suu Kyi
Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.

Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.

Aung San Suu Kyi
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.

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.

Aung San Suu Kyi
Fundamental violations of human rights always lead to people feeling less and less human.

Fundamental violations of human rights always lead to people feeling less and less human.

Aung San Suu Kyi
We want to empower our people; we want to strengthen them; we want to provide them with the kind of qualifications that will enable them to build up their own country themselves.

We want to empower our people; we want to strengthen them; we want to provide them with the kind of qualifications that will enable them to build up their own country themselves.

Aung San Suu Kyi
I wish people wouldn't think of me as a saint - unless they agree with the definition of a saint that a saint's a sinner who goes on trying.

I wish people wouldn't think of me as a saint - unless they agree with the definition of a saint that a saint's a sinner who goes on trying.

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

I've always been strongly on the side of non-violence.

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.

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
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.

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 best way to help Burma is to empower the people of Burma, to help us have enough self-confidence to obtain what we want for ourselves.

The best way to help Burma is to empower the people of Burma, to help us have enough self-confidence to obtain what we want for ourselves.

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

There is a time to be quiet and a time to talk.

Aung San Suu Kyi