I have great confidence in the universal value and in basic human rights and I have great confidence that referenda will eventually take root and become part of our daily lives in Taiwan.

We sincerely ask the Beijing authorities across the Strait to view the election result from a positive perspective, to accept the democratic decision of the Taiwanese people.

It has been well over half a century and I'm glad to say we have taken the right path from authoritarianism to democracy and this is a road of no return.

Even if I were knocked down by one gunshot it wouldn't affect our democracy and I wasn't knocked down and I have great confidence in our democracy and in Taiwan and in the people of Taiwan.

Taiwan is an independent, sovereign country.

If we really love and cherish Taiwan, we should hold our hands in unity to protect our country and our democratic values with the most humble and tolerant hearts.

The road to democracy may be winding and is like a river taking many curves, but eventually the river will reach the ocean.

I believe that this is not only the view of the people on both sides of the Strait. It is also the common expectation of the US, Japan and the international community.

A defensive referendum is for avoiding war and to help keep the Taiwanese people free of fear.

Even if one tree falls down it wouldn't affect the entire forest.

We will make every effort to unify all ethnic groups, to strengthen belief in Taiwan and to persist in reform.

It's ugly, but is it art?

The U.S. government has been preoccupied with health care 'reform, ' but this refers to improving access and insurance coverage and has little or nothing to do with innovation.

Don't make a whole to-do about it. Don't get down on yourself be- cause you're not an expert rower; don't start reading too many books in order to do it right.

Show a people as one thing, only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become.

Most people think that intelligence is about brain, where really it's about focus. Genius is just attention to a subject until it becomes specific, specific, specific.

I believe that the purpose of death is the release of love.

Water symbolizes the whole of potentiality - the source of all possible existence.

He's a blockhead who wants a proof of what he cannot perceive. And he's a fool a fool who tries to make such a blockhead believe.

Can she sing? She's practically a Florence Nightingale.

You haven't hurt people—you've given them an opportunity. They just have to be brave enough to take it.