Amartya Sen

Violence is fomented by the imposition of singular and belligerent identities on gullible people, championed by proficient artisans of terror.

There is considerable evidence that women's education and literacy tend to reduce the mortality rates of children

Empowering women is key to building a future we want

I attempted to see famines as broad "economic" problems (concentrating on how people can buy food, or otherwise get entitled to it), rather than in terms of the grossly undifferentiated picture of aggregate food supply for the economy as a whole.

Human ordeals thrive on ignorance. To understand a problem with clarity is already half way towards solving it.

Sometimes the lack of substantive freedoms relates directly to economic poverty, which robs people of the freedom to satisfy hunger; or to achieve sufficient nutrition, or to obtain remedies for treatable illnesses or the opportunity to be adequatley clothed or sheltered, or to enjoy clean water or sanitary facilities.

The exchange between different cultures can not possibly be seen as a threat, when it is friendly. But I believe that the dissatisfaction with the overall architecture often depends on the quality of leadership.

No famine has ever taken place in the history of the world in a functioning democracy.

Freedoms are not only the primary ends of development, they are also among its principal means.

The notion of human right builds on our shared humanity. These rights are not derived from the citizenship of any country, or the membership of any nation, but are presumed to be claims or entitlements of every human being. They differ, therefore, from constitutionally created rights guaranteed for specific people.

The success of a society is to be evaluated primarily by the freedoms that members of the society enjoy.

The elimination of ignorance, of illiteracy... and of needless inequalities in opportunities (is) to be seen as objectives that are valued for their own sake. They expand our freedom to lead the lives we have reason to value, and these elementary capabilities are of importance on their own

Sometimes the lack of substantive freedoms relates directly to economic poverty

Resenting the obtuseness of others is not good ground for shooting oneself in the foot.