Aung San Suu Kyi Quotes

I am happy that Poland is returning to the road of pluralism and democracy.

No one can take away the experience of Yeltsin's freedoms, but Russian democracy will never follow Western models: other authoritarian 'controlled democracies' - Turkey, Taiwan, Mexico - ultimately developed into democracies. But it took decades.

I'm also very much aware that it is you who brought democracy to Chile, you set up a constitution suitable for democracy, you put it into effect, elections were held, and then, in accordance with the result, you stepped down.

Nigeria shed the last of a succession of brutal military dictatorships in 1997 and adopted a democratic form of government only in 1999. Our elections of 2003, 2007, and 2011 were complicated and fraught with tension, but each one has shown remarkable progress.

Changes are inseparable from democracy. To defend democracy is to defend the possibility of change; in turn, changes alone can strengthen democracy.

The elections are the greatest symbol of participation and political reform.

We do need great change in Burma. We are trying to build a new society, a society where basic human rights are respected, and where our people enjoy all the benefits of democratic institutions.

As the 20th century ended, there were around 120 democracies in the world - and I can assure you more are on the way.

You cannot apply your high standards to a country [Egypt] burdened with decades of autocratic rule. Our democracy is still in its infancy.

Chinese no longer crave so much for food and accommodation, but they do crave democracy. I stand by that. I don't know which model China will follow.

If the Egyptian people can create a democracy in the heart of the Arab world, it will be a more significant contribution to civilization than the great pyramids.

We are not seeking revolution. We just want democracy.

We got rid of a terrible dictator. We gave the Iraqi people an opportunity for a new life under a representative form of government.

Taiwan is a budding democracy, and the people have participated in multi-party democratic elections since 1996.

Maintain democracy or go to dictatorship: that is what is at stake in these elections.

So, I think China desperately needs to legitimize some form of opposition.

In the past 20 years and more since China embarked on the road of reform and opening up, we have moved steadfastly to promote political restructuring and vigorously build democratic politics under socialism.

I left Russia in 1993 optimistic that democracy had taken hold despite the obstacles.

All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.

You don't get the fox to be in charge of the chicken coop. You don't give the outgoing regime - which has been practicing dictatorship, is an authoritarian system, it's a bunch of military people - the task of changing Egypt into a second republic, a new Egypt with democracy, freedom, rights, etc.

Elections are about choosing sides, but inaugurations are about closing ranks.

I'm not an anarchist. I believe in government.

I'm the one who initiated the democratic process.

Mexico has experimented with political change since the late 1980s.

On Jan. 30, millions of Iraqis will cast ballots in the country's first fair and free election in decades, marking continued progress in Iraq's transition toward a country built on the pillars of democracy and freedom for all.