Amartya Sen

Poverty is not just a lack of money; it is a lack of capability to live a full and flourishing life.

Development has to be seen as the expansion of the real freedoms that people enjoy.

Famines are not caused by a lack of food, but by a lack of access to food.

The market mechanism, while being a great engine of economic growth, is not by itself a great engine of social justice.

The question is not whether we should have markets or not, but how to make markets work for all.

The primary task of development is to expand the capabilities of people.

Human beings are not just consumers; they are also agents of change.

Democracy is not just about voting; it is about public reasoning and open discussion.

The absence of famine in a democracy is not an accident.

Justice is not a matter of perfect arrangements, but of reducing manifest injustices.

The capabilities approach focuses on what people are actually able to do and to be.

Freedom is not only the primary end of development, it is also its principal means.

The value of a life is not measured by its length, but by its depth.

The challenge is to combine the efficiency of the market with the equity of social provision.

Public discussion and democratic practice are central to the process of development.

The quality of life is not just about income, but about the freedoms and opportunities people have.

Rationality is not just about self-interest; it is also about reasoned choice.

The importance of human rights lies in their role as instruments of social change.

The world is full of poverty and deprivation, but it is also full of possibilities for change.

The role of the state is not to replace the market, but to complement it.