Benazir Bhutto

Pakistani PM

Contemporary influential 117 sayings

Sayings by Benazir Bhutto

Democracy is the best revenge.

2007 — Campaign slogan after her return to Pakistan
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

I didn’t choose this life; it chose me.

1993 — Interview about her political career
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The Taliban are not a threat to me personally. They are a threat to the world.

2007 — Statement before her assassination
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am what time, circumstances, and history have made me.

1989 — Autobiography 'Daughter of Destiny'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

In my view, dictatorship fuels extremism. The extremists feed off dictatorship, and dictatorship feeds off the extremists. The dictatorship needs the extremists to justify its existence, and the extremists need dictatorship to expand and spread.

2007 — Telephone interview with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell, opposing General Pervez Musharraf's declaration of…
Controversial Unverifiable

The solution to the “ascendancy in the activities of the extremists,” she pointed out, was “respecting the constitution, respecting the rule of law, and investing in the people, trusting the people, and allowing the people to determine their future.”

2007 — Telephone interview with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell, opposing General Pervez Musharraf's declaration of…
Controversial Unverifiable

State-sponsored suppression of political opposition is the first step for a polity's regression to political tyranny. Use of terror and torture without recourse to trial is the second. Use of extremist forces to kill political opponents is the third and final step to assure the death of democracy.

2007 — Opposing General Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency
Controversial Unverifiable

It's hard to be impartial to the man [Musharraf] who exiled me and threw my husband in prison.

2003 — Speech at the University of Pittsburgh
Controversial Unverifiable

However, if the U.S. government feels that Iraq is a threat to the American people, he must be disarmed. Dictatorships must be replaced with democracies.

2003 — Speech at the University of Pittsburgh, discussing the Iraq situation
Controversial Unverifiable

I hope the White House will not be so distracted by Iraq that they forget about Pakistan.

2003 — Speech at the University of Pittsburgh, discussing US foreign policy
Controversial Unverifiable

One must never let fear stand in the way of justice.

2003 — Speech at the University of Pittsburgh, discussing fighting terrorism
Controversial Unverifiable

She warned the U.S. government not to “bow to dictators in the name of stability.”

2003 — Speech at the University of Pittsburgh, discussing US foreign policy
Controversial Unverifiable

Bin Laden spent $10 million to unseat her government.

2003 — Speech at the University of Pittsburgh
Controversial Unverifiable

I watched the fanatical leaders of the Mujahedeen take control and form the Taliban. This created a Frankenstein.

2003 — Speech at the University of Pittsburgh, discussing Afghanistan
Controversial Unverifiable

The Islamic Street you see is the 'Television Street.' These are the streets of fanaticism.

2003 — Speech at the University of Pittsburgh, discussing public opinion in Islamic countries
Controversial Unverifiable

Military dictatorship is strangling my people.

2003 — Speech at the University of Pittsburgh, criticizing Pakistan's military government
Controversial Unverifiable

in some places, voter turnout exceeded 100 percent.

2003 — Speech at the University of Pittsburgh, referring to Pakistan's October 2002 elections
Controversial Unverifiable

The military destabilised my government on politically motivated charges.

Unknown, likely related to her dismissals from power — Statement attributed in a collection of her quotes
Controversial Unverifiable

Every dictator uses religion as a prop to keep himself in power.

Unknown — Statement attributed in a collection of her quotes
Controversial Unverifiable

You can imprison a man, but not an idea. You can exile a man, but not an idea. You can kill a man, but not an idea.

Unknown, frequently cited throughout her career — Widely attributed quote, often used in her speeches against authoritarianism
Controversial Confirmed