1. '' We can not be content being able to do what others can. We must strive to achieve what others cannot and be better than others at all times.''
2. '' When you take the oath of allegiance to serve and protect the people, you will have to mean it, understand it and feel it from the heart.''
3. ‘’ Natural responsibility means upholding values such as integrity, justice and compassion and above all living by that un-written but absolute code of right over wrong, no matter what it is we are trying to achieve as individuals or as a nation.’’
4. "The reckless action of a single person who clandestinely crosses the border for trade, or to meet acquaintances, or to bring someone to Bhutan, risks spreading the coronavirus in their community and in the country. It will completely undermine all our national efforts."
5. '' Since time immemorial we have not been overcome nor destroyed. We have had the resilience to withstand the biggest challenges and threats. We do not just live in the present but are aware of the future.''
6. “ Its not about IF, it’s about WHEN,
we have to prepare and stay on guard to combat the imminent danger from Covid 19."
- His Majesty the King
(27th July 2020, SRPF, Chukha).
7. “ I started De-Suung because I felt it is necessary. We come from a small country. We need to take ownership in nation building, so be it during security problems, be it during natural disasters, or be it during our everyday life. We have to be conscientious, responsible, committed citizens."
8. "As a young King, I have not yet been able to serve you as my father has done but my greatest desire is that I must repay your love, loyalty, support and trust. I pledge that it shall be my life-long endeavor to do so."
9. “ The prosperity of the people is a vital goal in our ultimate objective to create a harmonious and just society. Besides achieving economic success, we must also invest in enhancing the capabilities of our people so that they can shoulder greater responsibilities.”
10. " If we sweat together, we will stay together forever."
- His Majesty the King
(7 June 2020, SRPF, Chukha)
11. "There will always be challenges but we can face and overcome the most perilous crises as long as we are internally resolute and strong. I have great confidence in the core values stemming from our spiritual heritage, our consensual beliefs, and our shared values. With this spirit we will be able to fulfill all our aspirations and objectives far beyond our expectations."
12. "There is already genuine enthusiasm and spontaneous public response and people from all walks of life are coming forward to participate in national politics. This is a good sign and evidence that they have the capability and the confidence, and that they have the will to serve the nation and people."
13. "...No nation or people should ever have to experience such suffering. And yet if there is one nation who can rise stronger and greater from such adversity - it is Japan and her People. Of this I am confident. On your path to rebuilding and restoring of lives, we the Bhutanese people stand with you - humble in our power to provide material assistance but heartfelt and true, in our friendship, solidarity and goodwill".
14. "...Noble thoughts and good intent are not enough. We require intelligence and skill to fulfill such a role. Above all, we need the sincerity and dedication that comes from true patriotism to serve the nation. As sophisticated and admirable as our competency and procedures may be, it is equally important that we show outcome and result".
15. "I want to say a few things to you that I have said in the past to your predecessors as well: As a nation, it is very important for us to learn from our past in order to better understand our present, and get a clearer picture of where we are headed in the future".
16. "Today we have a happy, prosperity country that is stronger than ever before, it is the culmination of all hard work and commitment of our forefathers, the selfless service of our successive Kings, and the continual support rendered by the people that laid the foundations and enabled us to introduce democracy so successfully".
17. "Bhutan is but a small Himalayan nation of about 700,000 people. The country's enchanting physical characteristics coupled with a richly compelling history defines every fiber of the Bhutanese character. It is a beautiful country and in spite of its geographical size across the length and breadth of its varied topography lie scattered, numerous temples, monasteries and forts, reflecting the spirituality of generations of Bhutanese. Our environment remains pristine and our culture and traditions, Strong and vibrant. Bhutanese continue to live lives of simplicity and modesty that foster a deep sense of harmony among our people, as we have done so for centuries".
18. "Today we have great aspirations - the peace, stability, security and sovereignty of the nations; strengthening of our new democracy; equitable socio-economic growth to achieve GNH and; nurturing our youth to one day lead a nation greatly strengthened by our hard work and commitment. To achieve all this we need trust and faith in our relationship - between the government and people; between institutions of government and; between people ourselves. With Harmony and unity born of these relationships, we will achieve our aspirations and find peace, prosperity and Gross National Happiness".
19. "...In short let me say, if we uphold values such as unity, harmony, integrity, trust, justice and peace - if we respect their great importance - then it ll be reflected in a strong civil society. A strong civil society is a fundamental pillar of democracy".
20. " I was deeply reassured to see that our people fully appreciate the value of unity and the spirit of fidelity and harmony. If we – the King, government, and people, work together like members of one family, we can emerge unscathed from any adversity that we may encounter."
21. "...That we must accept the hardships, emotional turmoil and sadness for months to come. Yet, i pledged that even though our nation may be small, landlocked country without great wealth of others, in their moment of great suffering, the King and government would do everything to find the resources needed to alleviate their plan and restore happiness to their lives".
22. "For the peace, happiness and prosperity we enjoy today, i take this opportunity to voice on behalf of our people, gratitude to the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk. On my own behalf, i shall never forget the kindness, loyalty and faith with which you, my people, have supported me at the beginning of my own reign.
23. '' In times of such peace and prosperity, as good Bhutanese, we must reflect on our responsibilities in further strengthening our nation. We all know that we shoulder responsibilities based on our professions whether they be in the civil service, business or even as parents and teachers. We know we must excel in these duties in order to succeed as individuals and as a nation".
24. "I have always said that Bhutanese are a unique people. When a neighbour, friend or even stranger is in need we share their suffering and take it as our duty to help them. We must preserve the age-old values and our unity and harmony as a people. Thus, it is the duty of the King and those in positions of responsibility to set the right examples of compassion and care. In other nations, with changing times, these precious qualities and values have been eroded and replaced by a self-centered outlook to life with little concern for those less fortunate. We must not allow this to happen in Bhutan".
25. "...However, for some people, there may come moments when in spite of all their efforts, their problems become insurmountable - when they reach the end of the road and see no options ahead. At such times, if we do not step in to help them find their way forward, they ll despair and lose hope. This is something we must never tolerate in Bhutan. As King it is my duty to ensure that our people will always have hope".
26. "On serious note, even as King, i have no other duty than to work for the long-term future of my country. And because the obvious fact is that the future of a country must mirror the quality of her younger citizens ".
27. "We must never forget that for lasting peace and happiness in this world, the journey forward has to be one that we must all make together. No one should be left behind".
28. "..., Even if all of us can not own billions or rule the world - what we can do for certain is we can touch the life of one person at a time - that is what is humanly possible and that is the great equalizer - whether you are the richest woman in the world or an ordinary man making a living you have the same power to truly touch someone with kindness, compassion and care".
29. "None of us here may have, today, the wealth or skills to combat natural disasters or plug the ozone layer or remove world poverty. But we know that there is one thing we can change - that is ourselves. That is the most important thing - that is the one obvious starting point in our quest to find a solution to global problems - one's self".
30. "I don't want to talk about what the world should do or what countries should do - or about great subjects and issues and what leaders must do. Instead, let us talk about what we the youth, should do and how we should live our lives as individuals - about how we are going to tread this earth during our time. What kind of footprints are we going to leave as our generation gives way to that of our yet unborn children?".
31. "...This is my message today. I do not know how to find the cure for diseases and i cannot tell government or multinationals to respect the environment - but i can assure you with all confidence that each of us can be better individuals - better human beings. Whether we become farmers, scientists, inventors or Bureaucrats, the one thing we can all do alike is to live our lives according to the values of kindness, integrity, justice - we can be good human beings. How does Leadership of the Self - being better human beings - translate to a better world? ".
32. "When i speak about kindness, compassion and care - i know i may sound naive but the fact is that i believe in what i am saying. What i am saying is that in this global village - on a daily basis we are not fighting world wars or military conquest - every single day we are fighting the consequences of simple human negligence, complacency, lack of compassion, inequality. What we need is not a leader to lead the Masses - we need leadership of the Self".
33. "I have been inspired in the way i look at things by Bhutan's development philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and pioneer, my father His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk. Today, GNH has come to mean so many things to so many people but to me it signifies simply - Development with Values".
34. "If we view India Bhutan friendship - through the prism of simplicity - the perspective of fundamental human values, Indo-Bhutan friendship began as a bond between two men - two leaders - and that our best future lies in an unaltering bond between our two peoples".
35. "I cannot imagine living in a world where one's duty is only to oneself or to one's family or country. We must build from these true and intimate relationships outwards and upwards to the nobler duty to the greater world and to peace prosperity and happiness that is global".
36. "I truly believe that we have a special, unique and strong nation because of our people - the jewel of Bhutan. Throughout history our people have always worked as One Nation with One Vision. So, today, it is my hope that you will uphold this unity of spirit and purpose and resolve all disagreements in the interest of our People and Country, now and in the Future".
37. "As King i have the sacred duty to look beyond the next one or two, or even five or ten years. It is my duty to serve the people such that, for generation after generation, era upon era our nation becomes stronger, more prosperous and happier. Therefore, from where i stand, i do not see different players such as the National Assembly, National Council, Cabinet or Bureaucracy.
What do i see?
I see our small landlocked country. I see our small Bhutanese family. Then i see this immense world in which we have the challenge and responsibility to stand on our own feet and build a nation into which our future generations will always feel proud, secure and happy to be born.
This is what i see".
38. "When the sun sets every evening, we go to sleep in the comfort that it will rise in the morning and things will be the same. Do not however let the light of education ever got out. For if it should become dark, even for a moment, we will find that generations of our children will suffer its effects and the light on a bright future for our nation will take decades to shine again".
39. "I have said it time and again, a nation's future will be mirror the quality of her youth - a nation cannot fool herself into thinking of bright future when she has not invested wisely in her children".
"Today, whenever there is time, i travel across the country to villages. It is when i sit in the houses of my people, eat our meals together and discuss the lives and aspirations of each family, that i am most content. And while i am there i try, in small ways, to help them with their most pressing problems. Nothing is as rewarding as knowing that i have made their lives a little more comfortable, a little more secure and happier.
There is no substitute for being able to see the problems of the people personally. For when i carry out my duties, i shall remember the faces of the people whom i must serve and i will know the ways in which i can serve them best".
40. "...It is also while i am in the villages that i come across so many people serving the country in such important ways, but who are rarely recognized and acknowledged. There is the civil servant, teacher, health worker and local government staff working in remote places and serving their country well. Our development projects are supported by the hard work of daily-wage worker and those in the national work force. There is the small entrepreneur or the farmer working hard to feed his or her family. Such people are the backbone of our nation.
I have said before that the future is what we make of it what work we do with our two hands today, and the sacrifices we make will shape the future of our nation. To each and every loyal, hardworking and law-abiding citizen i offer my deepest gratitude".
41. "Contemplate! For what a grave mistake it will be to stand proud as nation on the hard work of our forefathers, the successes of our past and on the admiration and respect of the outside world today. And fail to see that it ll all disappear tomorrow, if we lose sight of the fundamental reasons for our success.
Contemplate! For what a grave mistake it will be to dream with great optimism of taking our nation from this successful democratic transition into a future of even greater success, without realizing that it is not us but our children who must secure that success for the nation".
42. "I can say so many good things today about the success of our country, about the hard work of our people. We have done our work well, our policies have been good - everything we have done we have done with the interests of our people and country in mind - that is why we are here today as a unique and successful nation. But my saying these things will not change anything. It serves no purpose or bears no fruits. Praising what we have already done will not bring new rewards. It is better to see what our weakness are, where we have not done well, where we need to do better".
43. "...Yet, the character of our people and the nature of our fundamental values have remained unchanged. Henceforth, as even more dramatic changes transform the world and our nation, as long as we continue to pursue the simple and timeless goal of being good human beings, and as long as we strive to build a nation that stands for everything that is good, we can ensure that our future generations for hundreds of years will live in happiness and peace".
44. "That is the essence of the philosophy of Gross National Happiness. Our most important goal is the peace and happiness of our people and the security and sovereignty of the nation. Our generation of Bhutanese have been gifted a strong, dynamic nation by our forefathers. I am confident that as long as we are willing to work with their commitment and dedication and follow their example we can bring greater peace, happiness and prosperity to our country".
45. "It is with great pride that we stand as a new democracy, having successful completed an unprecedented and historic transition. Yet we must always remember that as our Country, in these changing times finds immense new challenges and opportunities, whatever work we do, whatever goals we have - and no matter how these may change in this changing world - ultimately without peace, security and happiness we have nothing".
46. "I am confident because i know the worth and character of our people. You are true jewel of this nation. As citizens of a spiritual land you treasure the qualities of a good human being - honesty, kindness, charity, integrity, unity, respect for our culture and traditions, love for our country and for the Dharma. Throughout our history our parents have upheld these values and placed the common good above the self.
My deepest concern is that as the world changes we may lose these fundamental values on which rest our character as a nation and people. It is critical that we are able to recognize Bhutanese character irrespective of how far we look back into the past or into the future. The Bhutan we see is vastly different - unrecognizable even - when compared to the Bhutan in the time of our first King".
47. "I am confident because our people are unique. Our people are proud citizens who love our country and take it as our sacred duty to serve the nation. As Bhutanese we have so many qualities to be proud of. The manner, in which we all were united in celebration of my wedding, is a symbol of the fraternity and brotherhood among our people. It is an auspicious sign, that we ll always come together, in good times and bad, in the interest of our nation. We will always together as one, defend and protect our nation. If we are able to preserve this strength of unity and harmony, we shall overcome all challenges that may come our way".
48. "In spite of all our achievement and the peace and prosperity we have experienced for so long - in fact because of this success - we must remember to never be complacent. If even a small fraction of the problems that plague other nations appear in Bhutan, our small society will be forever afflicted and we may never regain our jewel of a nation".
49. "The ultimate objective of nation building is peace and harmony for Bhutan and her people- De-Suung".
"Our country is a special land blessed by Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, and further strengthened by the vision and hard work of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. Our country has faced and successfully overcome numerous hurdles in the past.
I am confident that, with the blessings of the Triple Gem, the protection of our Guardian Deities, Kurims conducted by His Holiness the Je Kenpo and the monastic community, and the unwavering bond of fidelity and unity among the King, country and people- we have the fearless courage to overcome all adversities. Let us rise to the occasion in the service of our nation".
"Our people's resilience is more important than the country's resources. Hoping for the best but prepare for the worst. We must not rest. These are unusual times; Things are going to get worse; Come what may, prepare for the worst"
50. '' We are confronted with a dangerous global pandemic of an unprecedented scale posing an imminent threat to our people. Therefore, building the resilience, confidence and security of our people must take greater priority over conserving our resources.''
51. "....I was deeply reassured to see that our people fully appreciate the value of unity, and the spirit of fidelity and harmony. If we - the King, government, and people, work together like members of one family, we can emerge unscathed from any adversity that we may encounter".
52. "There is a higher responsibility - not written in any legal document but instead enshrined in humanity and history - a natural responsibility and duty that we all must shoulder equally, irrespective of who we are. Of paramount importance to the strength of a nation, is the ability of her people to live as one united family - a community in which interaction is marked by trust, understanding and cooperation".
53. "I have no doubt that we can overcome Corona Virus and even bigger challenges"
"People must not be tired. All of us must act as a member of the family and let's take care of our country"
''We will always, together as one, defend and protect our nation. If we are able to preserve this strength of unity and harmony, we shall overcome all challenges that may come our way."
54. "...In times of such peace and prosperity, as good Bhutanese, we must reflect on our responsibilities in further strengthening our nation. We all know that we shoulder responsibilities based on our professions whether they be in the civil service, business or even as parents and teachers. We know we must excel in these duties in order to succeed as individuals and as a nation.
However, there is a higher responsibility - not written in any legal document but instead enshrined in humanity and history - a natural responsibility and duty that we all must shoulder equally, irrespective of who we are. Of paramount importance to the strength of a nation, is the ability of her people to live as one united family - a community in which interaction is marked by trust, understanding and cooperation".
55. "... I am young, but as King it is my duty to offer, after deep reflection and prayer, my own thoughts and guidance on how we strengthen our nation as a unique Bhutanese people. To me, natural responsibility means upholding values such as integrity, justice and compassion and above all living by that unwritten but absolute code of right over wrong, no matter what it is we are trying to achieve as individuals or as a nation. After all, while the objectives are important, the manner in which we achieve these objectives is a far more important indicator of our strength as a nation. We must achieve everything as a united harmonious family. I truly believe that it would be a great service to the nation if, as individuals, we always treat each other with respect and dignity".
56. "...In other nations, difficult moments in their history are meet with strife, violence and conflict as people sacrifice national interest in order to achieve individual ambitions. In Bhutan such acts and events have never occurred. Our way of life, our heritage, loyalty and values remain strong in the hearts of our people and our people stand ready, even in times of great personal hardship, to place Nation above self. I am so proud of our People and offer my deep gratitude for the love you have shown for your Nation."
57. "...We must always stand united in spirit and purpose, we must stand always be one nation with one common goal."
58. "...In Bhutan, with a population of about 700,000, most are below the age of 28 years and 230,000 of them are in schools and colleges. Most of them were born after 1990. Knowing the character of our Bhutanese people, I have full confidence in our youth and I sincerely hope and pray that they will be able to serve their country.
Our youth, in turn, must not wait for government initiatives and handouts, and for parents to push them to launch their careers. In a fast moving high tech world, where the only limit is your imagination, you must learn to take charge of the transition and inevitable evolution. You must take the first step forward."
59. "...For us, it is most important that, no matter how grave the external threats may be, nothing can harm us if we are united like members of a closely bonded family. Our society, as small as it is, cannot be threatened if we are conscious of the potential threats and remain steadfast in protecting our common interests.
But more than external factors, we can become more vulnerable with internal instability. The history of global and regional trends in other countries have shown that the downfall of countries are caused by failure of governments, breakdown in the rule of law, economic crises, and the growing economic disparities between the rich and the poor. People feel helpless, and lose faith and trust in their governments and in each other. Their frustrations lead to internal skirmishes extenuating religious, political and racial differences leading to political clashes, anarchy, and wars. This has destabilised economies, disintegrated governance structures, and destroyed societies and countries."
60. "Bhutan cannot afford to be complacent. We are a small vulnerable country landlocked between two large neighbours. India and China together have more than two and a half billion people. A large proportion of their population are young and capable, highly educated, and skilled. They do not shirk from hardship and they are not averse to hard work. And there are hundreds of thousands of them for each one of us. So for us to achieve equal standards of living, we have no choice but to work harder and become more capable."
61. "We are a small, mountainous, landlocked, sparsely populated country, located between populous and economic giants, existing in a world that is characterized by uncertainty amidst a rapidly changing environment. The only way we can navigate safely and successfully into the future is by being diligent, sharp, and steadfast. It is important that we always support and encourage those who are intelligent and competent. We must always remember to be a society that values talent."
62. "When I think of the future, I cannot help but feel concerned because of the uncertainties inherent in an ever changing and complex world. However, with our determination and drive to succeed, reinforced with hard work and responsibility, and inspired by the right values, I am confident that we can succeed as a nation."
63. "As long as you work to serve the country and people, you will have our full support. If you should falter in your service to the nation, then the duty to counsel you also rests with the people and King"
64. "There cannot be enduring peace, prosperity, equality and brotherhood in this world if our aims are so separate and divergent, if we do not accept that in the end we are people, all alike, sharing the Earth among ourselves and also with other sentient beings, all of whom have an equal role and stake in the state of this planet and its players."
67. "Gyalsung will provide direction and encourage our youth to be strong, independent thinkers, capable of serving the country. It will bring the youth of Bhutan together in a shared experience and act as a rite of passage- irrespective of their economic or regional backgrounds. With this initiative, we are placing an immense responsibility on the shoulders of our children, and assuming an even greater responsibility ourselves, to nurture them and ensure their success."
68. "We are yet to take full advantage of our small size, to better organise and manage ourselves. Larger countries are faced with challenges in communication and information sharing, and in building consensus and harmony. These lead to mismanagement, lack of responsibility and accountability, oversight, and failure to achieve results."
69. "We have to create economic opportunities for the next generation. It’s time to recalibrate ourselves to succeed in the fast-paced world. The government, lawmakers, the private sector, the people, and experts in various fields must work collectively to chart out a clear economic roadmap for the 21st Century- this will help every individual and entity to understand their respective roles and work towards a common national objective."
70. "The world is changing rapidly. We cannot afford to avoid what we don’t yet understand, and hope for the best. Such an attitude will cost us our national objective of self reliance."
71. "Our neighbours, India and China, are experiencing unprecedented economic growth, propelled by technological advances in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Automation, Big Data, Blockchain, Quantum Computers, and FinTech - Digital Currencies, Digital Wallets, Digital Banking."
72. "It is in our hands to build a better future for our children. One of our most important national objectives, is to empower every single child in Bhutan for success. Bhutan’s future will be mirrored by the strength and capabilities of our youth."
73. “Use all the resources that are available to you- your smartphones, the internet, youtube, et cetera, to equip yourselves with the skills and knowledge to become employable, and ready to take up the jobs of the future, your success will depend on your enthusiasm and the time that you invest in learning.”
74. "To prepare for the 21st century, we have to invest in our children. Bhutanese are extremely capable people, and with the right opportunities and guidance, I have no doubt that Bhutanese children will achieve their full potential".
75. “We must be a nation of honest, reliable and trustworthy people.”
76. “Trust will not emerge on it’s own, but have to be actively cultivated and nurtured.”
76. “We must emphasize quality in whatever we do so that we can strive for perfection. We need to focus on creativity – for what we lack in numbers we must make up in talent.”
77. “The Prince is not just the Royal Child of the King and Queen but a son to all the Bhutanese people in the 20 dzongkhags.
Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck must live his life as a good human being and carry out his service to the nation in such a manner that it will serve as an example to others.
He is named Jigme, which means fearless – to invoke the strength to confront any challenges that the future may present, without fear or hesitation, when the time comes for him to serve his country.
He is also named Namgyel, which means victory in all directions, over all forms. It was the name of the revered Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel who enabled the Dharma to flourish in all directions as prophesied by Guru Rinpoche.
And he is named Wangchuck, inherited from the Wangchuck dynasty.”
78. “The Prince is not just the Royal Child of the King and Queen but a son to all the Bhutanese people in the 20 dzongkhags.
Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck must live his life as a good human being and carry out his service to the nation in such a manner that it will serve as an example to others.
He is named Jigme, which means fearless – to invoke the strength to confront any challenges that the future may present, without fear or hesitation, when the time comes for him to serve his country.
He is also named Namgyel, which means victory in all directions, over all forms. It was the name of the revered Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel who enabled the Dharma to flourish in all directions as prophesied by Guru Rinpoche.
And he is named Wangchuck, inherited from the Wangchuck dynasty.”
79. “I have always said that Bhutanese are a unique people. When a neighbour, friend, or even stranger is in need we share their suffering and take it as our duty to help them. We must preserve these age-old values and our unity and harmony as a people. Thus it is the duty of the King and those in positions of responsibility to set the right examples of compassion and care.”
80. “I have a number of priorities. Number one on my list is education. Education is empowering. It is a social equalizer and it facilitates self-discovery which leads to realizing one’s full potential. I believe in education.”
81. "Our natural heritage has been protected due to the carefully thought out policies under the leadership of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and His Majesty The King, and that by failing to consider the consequences of our behaviour and ignoring our civic duties, we would fail the ideals upon which our country has been built."
-Her Majesty the Queen
Druk Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk
82. "Bhutan for life is not for the youth, it belongs to the youth"
Her Majesty the Queen
Druk Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk
83. "As far as you, my people are concerned, you should not adopt the attitude that whatever is required to be done for your welfare will be done entirely by the Government. On the contrary of little effort on your part will be much more effective than a great deal of effort on the part of the Government."
-His Majesty The King
The Great Fourth Jigme Singye Wangchuk
Coronation Address 1974
"Where we live must be clean, safe, organised, and beautiful, for national integrity, national pride, and for our bright future. This too is nation building."
His Majesty The King
Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk, The Great 4th.
