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The Wit and Wisdom of Gus Dur
December 30, 2009

Gus Dur laughs at the launching of a book of his essays in Semarang in 2005. (Antara Photo) Gus Dur laughs at the launching of a book of his essays in Semarang in 2005. (Antara Photo)
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Valkyrie
7:25am Dec 31, 2009

I hope that someone would produce a book on the wisdom and wits of Gus Dur.

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Gus Dur was known for his way with words and his love of jokes. Some of his memorable quotes include:


Suharto was a New Order president. Habibie was In Order and I am No Order.

The deep problem is that people use religion wrongly in pursuit of victory and triumph. This sad fact then leads to conflict with people who have different beliefs.

I was a forced politician, yes, but not a true politician..... in the sense that I never cared about public opinion, for example... No politician will do that. (laughs)

You don’t realise that losing the presidency for me is nothing ... I regret more the fact that I lost 27 recordings of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

I am not worried about minorities dominating us. That is born from our own insecurities. Muslims – possibly due to historical factors – are often haunted by feelings of defeat and weakness.

Democracy is not only not haram (forbidden) in Islam but is a compulsory element of Islam. Upholding democracy is one of the principals of Islam, which is syuro (assembly).

There must no longer be anything to differentiate Indonesians based on religion, mother language, culture and ideology.

If today there are people calling Islam bad names, we will teach them that Islam is peaceful.

Why sweat it? (Gitu aja kok repot?) --Gus Dur frequently used this offhand remark to dismiss issues he considered unimportant.

Seventy percent of our nation is saltwater, so why do we import salt? It’s okay being stupid but why are we purposely being ignorant?

This is an ideal team. The president can't see and the vice president can't talk. --After becoming president alongside the famously taciturn Megawati Sukarnoputri

I need help to step up, let alone to step down. --On being asked to resign

If in the past I said that the House of Representatives was a kindergarten, now I say it is a playgroup.