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Self-government does not and should not imply the use of political agencies alone. Progress is born of cooperation in the community - not from governmental restraints.

There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy.

In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian countries join forces with other democratic countries in the world to form a global community of democracies.

Inspiring scenes of people taking the future of their countries into their own hands will ignite greater demands for good governance and political reform elsewhere in the world, including in Asia and in Africa.

We have pledged ourselves, and of this the United Nations of the world are witness, to give the fullest opportunity for attainment of self-government by India as soon as hostilities are over. I repeat that that is beyond doubt.

People of all countries have the right to choose their own social system and road to development in the light of their national conditions and characteristics.

The reason societies with democratic governments are better places to live in than their alternatives isn't because of some goodness intrinsic to democracy, but because its hopeless inefficiency helps blunt the basic potential for evil.

In Asia, democracy has been less advanced than elsewhere. And many of these countries haven't done too badly.

Every country must be absolutely free to adopt the type of economic, political and social system that it considers convenient.