Amartya Sen

Argument is the lifeblood of Indian tradition.

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

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

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

The market mechanism, in spite of its many virtues, is not a panacea for all economic and social ills.

Human beings are not just rational calculators; they are also moral agents.

The absence of famine in a democracy is not a matter of luck, but a matter of political incentives.

Gender inequality is not only unjust, but also inefficient.

The concept of justice is deeply intertwined with the concept of capability.

Public discussion and democratic practice are central to the formation of values and the making of choices.

The expansion of freedom is both the primary end and the principal means of development.

The real problem is not whether the market is good or bad, but how it can be made to serve human ends.

The idea of justice is not about finding perfectly just institutions, but about reducing manifest injustices.

The quality of life is not just about income, but about the freedoms people enjoy.

The role of public action is crucial in expanding human capabilities and freedoms.

The absence of basic political freedoms can make people vulnerable to economic deprivation.

The concept of human rights is closely linked to the idea of capabilities.

The pursuit of economic growth without social justice is ultimately unsustainable.

The value of a life is not just in its length, but in its quality and the opportunities it offers.

The idea of development must be seen as a process of expanding the real freedoms that people enjoy.