Haile Selassie

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.

We must always strive for justice and equality.

The Bible says the poor will always be with us, and this is true.

But in any country a few offenders must always be expected, and if some men are found transgressing the proclamation that has been promulgated, all the foreign envoys know that We have punished them even with the death penalty. Therefore, Our conscience does not rebuke Us, for We have done unceasingly everything possible as regards the liberation of the slaves.

We were particularly convinced, by the policies directed against Us, that the enemy's heart was stricken with envy at Our setting up a constitution to strengthen and to consolidate Ethiopia's unity, at Our opening schools for boys and girls, at Our building hospitals in which Our people's health was to be safeguarded, as well as at all sorts of other initiatives of Ours by which Ethiopia's independence would be affirmed, not only in terms of history but in actual fact.

That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned - that until there are no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation - that until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes - that until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race - it's a war.

A house built on granite and strong foundations, not even the onslaught of furious winds and rain can shake. A house built on sand, the first gust of wind topples it.

Justice must be done to the weak, and the powerful must be restrained.

We have no right to complain if we are not prepared to act.

Man is a creature of God, and should be treated with dignity and respect.

The true leader is one who leads by example, not by coercion.

Knowledge is power. If it is not applied properly to create, let there be no doubts, it will destroy.

We have learned that to be free, we must be united.

The very nature of man is to err, but also to overcome error.

It is not in the nature of things that God should choose a king to be His representative on earth.

Ethiopia has always been an independent nation, and we shall remain so.

A government that ignores its people's needs is a government that will fall.

We must work together to build a better future for Africa.

The Bible is the most important book in the world.