"Leadership is a spiritual quality, born of the soul and of the mind. It is a gift of God, and it is given to those who are worthy."

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

"A king does not answer to the people; the people answer to the king."

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

"We must never forget our history, for it is a guide to our future."