"During Ninoy´s incarceration and before my presidency, I used to ask why it had always to be us to make the sacrifice. And then, when Ninoy died, I would say, ´Why does it have to be me now?´It seemed like we were always the sacrificial lamb."

"This is the glory of democracy, that its most solemn moment should be the peaceful transfer of power."

"I hope that history will judge me as favorably as our people still regard me because, as God is my witness, I honestly did the best I could. No more can be asked of any man."

"As President, I have never prayed for anything for myself; only for our people."

"Government often had to do what pressing realities compelled it. And if the government sometimes lacked better choices, it never lacked the sincere desire to do good."

"While my power as president ends in 1992, my responsibility as a Filipino for the well-being of my country goes beyond it to my grave. A great part of that responsibility is to do the best I can today, according to my best lights, while I have the power to do it."

"It is my aim to add the distinction of shepherding our democracy through its first political succession, by clean and peaceful elections."

"I firmly believe in the freedom of the press. And I accept the criticisms poured on me, painful as they are, as part and parcel of the hazards of public service, and conducive to its honest performance."

"I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life."

"People used to compare me to the ideal president, but he doesn´t exist and never existed. He has never lived."

"For the first time in the history of the world, a civilian population has been called to defend the military."

"I don´t know anything about the presidency."

"Let us rather be grateful to the nation and to the historical moment for the privilege we had of being heroes."

"I believed that nowhere could you find more effective cures for the ills of our country — such as the habit of oppression, the inclination to corruption, betrayal of the public interest — than in the blessings of democracy: freedom; rights; transparent dealings; and a government of the people by the people themselves."

"None of the good that we do is ever lost; not even the light in an empty room is wasted."

"As I came to power peacefully, so shall I keep it. That is my contract with my people and my commitment to God."

"With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the rights as God gives us to see the rights, let us finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and for his orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

"In giving, we receive; in losing, we find; and out of defeat, we snatched our victory."

"By the grace of God and the unshakeable faith of the Filipino people, I am confident we shall pull through."

"I am not embarrassed to tell you that I believe in miracles."

"The nation was awakened by that deafening shot."

"To me, he was more than a father. He was a role model, a confidant, a teacher. His wisdom was never forced, but gently offered, always at the right time and always with kindness. He taught me the value of hard work, the importance of kindness, and the power of a good heart"

"I feel more fulfilled after I have accomplished something during difficult times. Challenges are really enablers for me."

"To succeed in life, it is important to build good relationships in your professional and personal life. Being open, positive, honest and sincere — help establish trust and rapport with your patients and their families. Always stay humble and grateful."

"I’m very hands-on with my projects and personally visit the sites. I often meet with my clients, my engineers, and my staff in the afternoon as well, but I always make sure to be home for dinner with my family."

"I’ve always wanted to build a city where the standard of living for residents is above average, a city within a city that looks and feels like Singapore, where life isn’t perfect but the quality of life sets a standard in the Philippines."

"This was an extraordinary opportunity to help others. I’m taking that opportunity as a blessing."

"I admire things like mountains and flowers, which only God can create. We can build bridges and buildings but only God can build a soft petal."

"Ordinary woman lang ako. Ba’t nabigyan ng extraordinary opportunity? Bakit naman ako kailangan maging mayabang? Lahat tayo same eh. Wala naman Karen, lahat tayo equal. [I’m just an ordinary woman. Why was I given this extraordinary opportunity? Why should I be arrogant? We’re all the same. Nothing special, Karen, we’re all equal.]"

"Construction and development are as much about precision and heavy duty as they are about passion and heart."

"Kahit yung mga failures, opportunity rin yun sa bagong magkaroon ng bagong opportunity sa lahat. [Even failures are also opportunities for new opportunities to come.]"

"When you give, you give from the heart. Otherwise, it’s a waste."

"No structure is too grand, or task too difficult. No dream is out of reach."