Jean-Bertrand Aristide Quotes

The spirit of Ubuntu, that once led Haiti to emerge as the first independent black nation in 1804, helped Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador attain liberty, and inspired our forefathers to shed their blood for the United States' independence, cannot die. Today, this spirit of solidarity must and will empower all of us to rebuild Haiti.

In order for peace to reign, one must speak the truth, and that is why I have spoken of a political abduction, ... ... Far from my own country, but in deep communion with all Haitians, including Haitians abroad, I continue to launch an appeal for peaceful resistance.

As we all know, many people remain buried under tons of rubble and debris, waiting to be rescued. When we think of their suffering, we feel deeply and profoundly that we should be there, in Haiti, with them, trying our best to prevent death.

We must all make peace so that we can all live in peace.

If one suffers we all suffer. Togetherness is strength. Courage.

The structure of apartheid is still rooted in the Haitian society. When you have apartheid, you don't see those behind the walls. That is the reality of Haiti.

Haiti, Haiti, the further I am from you, the less I breathe. Haiti, I love you, and I will love you always. Always.

We shall prepare the coffee of reconciliation through the filter of justice. Through reconciliation, streams of tears will come to our eyes.

When you care about human beings, you do your best to not repress and to not let people to repress and to not arm people to repress.

As far as we are concerned, we are ready to leave today, tomorrow, at any time, to join the people of Haiti, to share in their suffering, help rebuild the country, moving from misery to poverty with dignity.

In 1994, when I went back to Haiti from exile, we established a Commission for Truth and Justice and Reconciliation. I passed the documents to the next government, and I never heard about it again.

Love is the air that I breathe, like oxygen. When I lack it, I feel atrophied, asphyxiated. When I have it, I feel I am growing. And so this growth is linked to others, or to a collective other. If I realize that I do not love you, my faith diminishes, and I breathe less and less of the oxygen of life. When I feel linked to you, in communion with you, there is a current of love that passes between us, and the intensity can multiply. And the more this love grows, the more the faith becomes luminous, the more I feel linked to the collective other. I am speaking of God.

Of course, learning is strengthened and solidified when it occurs in a safe, secure and normal environment.

I will work to bring peace to everyone - whatever economic level - as long as you are Haitian.

Pa gen lape nan tet, si pa gen lape nan vant (there is no peace in the head if there is no peace in the stomach).

Sometimes people who want to understand Haiti from a political perspective may be missing part of the picture. They also need to look at Haiti from a psychological perspective.

Chopped down the tree of peace, but it will grow again.

I am confident that I can serve my country without being involved as the president of the country now.

When we say democracy we have to mean what we say.

The first time Haiti had free and fair democratic elections was 1990, when I was elected.

Peace in the head, peace in the stomach.

Thirty-two coups d'etat are enough.

We have not reached the consensus that to eat is a basic human right. This is an ethical crisis. This is a crisis of faith.

We are all equal, rich and poor and we need a society where the people enjoy their rights.

I know how the American people care for that democratic principle. They want to see their vote respected. As we in Haiti want to see the vote of the people respected.

Haitians don't like to say they are hungry because we are proud.

The future of Haiti must be linked to the respect of the rights of every single citizen.

I am still the only elected president of the country.

I respect religion and will respect any religion.

We have problems which will be addressed by Haitians.