Kevin Rudd Quotes

Many still believe that conducting political and economic reforms at the same time is not an Asian way. But this is a fairy-tale. We broke that old stereotype by reforming our political, economic and social systems concurrently since 1990.

You cannot effectuate change if you do not have power.

The period of radical reform is finished.

When you look at the times in history when change was brought about, there were two factors: crisis and leadership.

The spirit of the age is the very thing a great man changes.

This country has been without stern, sails and wind, and it needs someone at the helm. We are doomed to live in an authoritarian state until genuine democracy, which should not be confused with anarchy, can be set up.

Beginning reform is beginning revolution.

One of the reasons that change takes place is that the people who produce it believe change can take place.

One cannot enforce major reforms with slim majorities.

All political action aims at either preservation or change.

Most governments and people want reform. It’s the prospect of change that makes reform rare.

Making these changes is a matter of life and death for our country, and it will give our people a chance to lead a better life.

The world which we now live in must be transformed, yet there is a dearth of ideas about how it is to be done.

Why do today's non-stop shocks -- why don't they spur us into action? Why don't they produce leaps? Especially when it comes to climate change.

We will meet our challenges head on and we will do it by rejecting the politics of mediocrity and corruption. You voted for change; I intend to deliver it. ... I will govern as a reformer.

I titled my book "Revolution." And that is exactly what it is. France is experiencing a time of transformation - in education, on the labor market and in the pensions system. We're talking about a cultural revolution.

Essentially we need a new social consensus for economic reform as New Labour has achieved in Britain.

Politics is an instrument that can transform society.

Believe me, the intellectual revolution is going on, and that has to come first before you see the political changes. That's where I'm very optimistic.

Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies.

Many individuals are doing what they can. But real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics.

Society has to change, but the political powers we have at the moment are not enough to effect this change. The whole democratic system would have to be rethought.

When Xi Jinping came to power, there were a series of hints that market-based capitalism would be allowed to move forward under his leadership. At the first real threat, they've fallen over themselves to impose government control.

As long I still have a breath left in me I will dedicate myself fully to China's reform.

There are many things we do not want about the world. Let us not just mourn them. Let us change them.