(on the perceived need for cautious political development): 'We are the High Chiefs of these islands. We are the leaders of the people. On us is the duty of pointing out to them the right course. Bear this in mind. We have to lead on two points- hold back those who advocate radical changes (for which we are not sufficiently educated) and enliven the laggards before their ignorance destroys us.'

(on the Indian presence in his country): 'Let us not ignore the fact that there is another community settled here in our midst. I refer to the Indians. They ha…

'Eda na sega ni kilai na i Taukei kevaka ena sega mada ni dave e liu na noda dra.' (English Translation: 'Fijians will never be recognized unless our blood is …

'A great and noble man ... whose foresight and vision still impacts on our future.' (Ratu Josefa Iloilo, President of Fiji; 2003)

A political country is like an American forest; you have only to cut down the old trees, and immediately new trees come up to replace them.

Revolutionaries themselves are the last people to realize when, through force of time and circumstance, they have gradually become conservatives. It is scarcel…

Nothing is so common as to see a political upheaval pass practically unnoticed merely because the names of the leaders and their parties remain the same.